Marcos urges LGUs to embrace public-private ties and digitization

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. during his meeting with members of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP). Screengran from RTVM / Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday pushed for digitization as he urged local government units to be open to public-private partnership (PPP) as a mode of financing for projects.

The President made the call during a meeting with members of the League of Cities of the Philippines on Tuesday, saying digitalization would play a big part in the PPP, especially in pushing for economic recovery and digital transformation.

“I think this is the way forward, and I encourage all our local government units to be open to the possibilities of PPPs and to have private-public partnerships, especially in your areas,” Marcos said in a statement released Wednesday.

“Digitalization is going to be a very natural fit for something like PPPs,” Marcos added.

The President said that apart from the push for digitalization, his administration would also focus on infrastructure.

He said he had already received offers from other countries to fund big-ticket projects, including official development assistance (ODA) and joint ventures.

“Marami ring opportunities especially sa infrastructure. Marami sa ating mga kaibigan na galing sa iba’t ibang bansa– lalo na nung nag-courtesy call sa atin ‘yung ambassador– marami silang ino-offer na tulong,” Marcos said.

(There are many opportunities, especially in infrastructure. Many of our friends from foreign nations — especially those whose ambassadors paid a courtesy call to us — have offered to help.

“May ODA, may private sector, joint venture. Well, you’re [a] local government, you know that already. The local government generally cannot do it by itself. [So], we have to find partners, we have to find local partners, we have to find investors. Sanay na kayo diyan,” he added.

The President also encouraged local chief executives to become the “driving force” to promote economic transformation.

“But even at the national level, we are encouraging it. I hope that you continue to do that and be the driving force behind our economic transformation. I have always said that some of the best talents in government is in the LGUs, in the cities, in the governors, in the mayors,” he said.

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