Department of Internal and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is strengthening and expanding support for local government units (LGUs) as a key strategy to rebuild public trust and spur national development.

Speaking at a Presidential Communications Office (PCO) press briefing on Monday, 13 January, Remulla acknowledged a growing “crisis of confidence” between the government and the public, which he attributed to recent revelations surrounding the flood control controversy.

“There is a crisis of confidence now between the people and the government,” Remulla said, stressing the need for reforms that bring government services closer to communities.

He explained that much of the public’s frustration stems from what he described as “friction costs” at the local government level—referring to redundant processes and unnecessary time, effort, and expenses that citizens and businesses face when dealing with administrative systems and regulations. According to Remulla, these inefficiencies are often more pronounced in LGUs than in national agencies.

To address this, Remulla said the President is strengthening the Local Government Fund to empower LGUs and streamline service delivery. He cited a major initiative under the administration’s infrastructure program, where the Department of Education has been allocated 40,000 classrooms for one year under the Build, Build, Build projects. These projects, he said, will be overseen by LGUs to reduce costs and boost local economies.

“Prices of it will go down by at least 14 percent at the minimum, and the local community will be stimulated as well,” Remulla said.

The DILG chief also highlighted housing programs for both rural and urban areas, particularly targeting informal settlers and agricultural communities.

These initiatives aim to lower the cost of living and improve access to decent housing, especially for those in the farming sector.

“Ang local government mismo ang siyang mag-uusad ng national development,” Remulla said, underscoring his belief that empowered LGUs are central to driving inclusive and sustainable national growth.

Meanwhile part of their fund is also for the Philippine National Police and also intelligence funds while Remulla cannot give insight to the money given he says this reflects the publics trust in the PNP.