The Philippines has sought World Bank backing for a $1-billion program aimed at tackling the country ’ s plastic waste problem, starting with Metro Manila. In a June 10 document, the World Bank said that the proposed Clean Philippines Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA) is designed to improve...
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has flagged corruption as a major risk to Philippine infrastructure delivery, warning that the multibillion-peso flood-control corruption scandal show that current accountability safeguards remain insufficient to prevent the misuse of...
Despite widespread public concern about climate change, financing and institutional constraints continue to hamper the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen climate resilience and adaptation measures, according to state-run policy think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). In...
The national government’s (NG) usual April budget surplus shrank by more than half this year after the annual income tax returns (AITRs) filing and payment deadline was extended by one month due to the national energy emergency, although revenues were partly supported by millions of pesos in...
Local government units (LGUs) showed a slight uptick in loan requests in April 2026 compared to the same month last year, even as the total financing amount saw a sharp decline to ₱2.7 billion due in part to budget surpluses typical of a non-election period. According to the latest data from the...
President Marcos said the government is correcting the misuse of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) by directing resources straight to local governments and communities under the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” program. In a speech on the program’s launch in General Trias, Cavite, on...
President Marcos has assured local officials that their budget will increase if they run the programs funded by the national government well. In his remarks during the turnover of financial assistance to barangays in Eastern Visayas on Thursday, April 30, Marcos told local officials the national...
The national government has streamlined the taxes and fees imposed by local government units (LGUs) on businesses enjoying tax incentives, a move aimed at addressing investor concerns about unfair tax policies. Under Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1 dated March 23, the government affirmed that...
Local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines are spending far below what is needed to deliver basic primary health care (PHC) services, according to state-run policy think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). A PIDS discussion paper t itled “Are Philippine Local...
Malacañang rejected claims that the recent Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) release was a venue to distribute pork barrel funds to influence local government officials ahead of the barangay and 2028 elections. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after ACT...
League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) National President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora expressed his gratitude to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his administration for their steadfast support to local governments across the country, particularly with the passing of the...
President Marcos has raised the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) to a record-high P58 billion for 2026 and ordered the faster, more direct release of funds to local government units (LGUs), saying delays in the past have hampered urgently needed projects in communities. Speaking at the launch...
