ILOILO CITY – In a concerted effort to strengthen the collaboration between local and national government units, Iloilo mayors and other key local leaders actively participated in the “Strengthening the National Development Roadmap through Intensified Local–National Government Connections Forum” held on January 19, 2023, at Days Hotel, Iloilo City.
The event was graced by the presence of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr., whose attendance underscored the national government’s commitment to fostering deeper engagement with local government units (LGUs) across the country. Secretary Abalos highlighted the critical role of LGUs in implementing grassroots-level reforms and in ensuring that national development plans are effectively translated into community-specific programs.
This significant forum brought together an esteemed assembly of Governors, City and Municipal Mayors, Liga ng mga Barangay Presidents, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members, and other elected and appointed officials from across Region 6 (Western Visayas). Their collective presence demonstrated a shared commitment to building a more responsive, inclusive, and resilient governance framework that bridges policy-making at the national level with the practical realities faced by communities on the ground.
The forum was organized through the initiative of the DILG – Local Government Regional Resource Center (LGRRC), in collaboration with the Province of Iloilo and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Iloilo Chapter. With this collaboration, the event served as both a venue for high-level policy discussion and a platform for the exchange of best practices, challenges, and innovative solutions currently being implemented in the region’s municipalities and cities.
One of the forum’s primary objectives was to reinforce the alignment of local development plans with the country’s Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and other national priority programs. Through open dialogues and breakout sessions, participants tackled issues related to governance efficiency, fiscal management, digitalization, disaster resilience, health and social services, and infrastructure development. These discussions aimed to ensure that local initiatives are not only responsive to their constituents’ needs but also reflective of the government’s overarching vision for sustainable and equitable national growth.
In his keynote address, Secretary Abalos urged local leaders to embrace transparency, accountability, and innovation in governance. He emphasized the significance of inter-governmental synergy, stating that “real progress happens when national and local governments work as one — united in purpose, aligned in strategy, and committed to uplifting the lives of every Filipino.”
Aside from promoting intergovernmental cooperation, the forum also served as a preparatory step for future joint endeavors between DILG and LGUs, particularly in the areas of decentralization, local autonomy, and capacity-building programs aimed at improving the delivery of basic services in underserved and remote communities.
As the event concluded, participants expressed optimism that such engagements would lead to more robust and institutionalized mechanisms for dialogue and partnership between levels of government. The insights and collaborative spirit shared during the forum are expected to pave the way for the formulation of more responsive, inclusive, and forward-looking development strategies that will benefit not just Western Visayas, but the nation as a whole.
The forum represents another milestone in the continuing efforts to build a strong, connected, and development-driven government system that places people at the center of policymaking. The Province of Iloilo, together with the LMP-Iloilo, reaffirmed its readiness to support national directives and strengthen its role as a proactive partner in nation-building. /rjip
