Abalos warns LGUs anew vs project fund ‘fixers’

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos —Official facebook page of Benhur Abalos

MANILA, Philippines — Local government and barangay officials nationwide should beware of dealing with people who claim they can help facilitate the release of funding for their projects.

“These incidents of poseurs claiming to be government agents pose serious threats to the integrity of government processes, and undermine the trust and confidence of the public in the administration of government funds,” Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said in an advisory on Wednesday.

This was the sixth time since 2021 that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had warned against fixers or other third-party entities offering help in accessing the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

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Abalos said he again received reports about individuals posing as agents of the DILG and Department of Budget and Management (DBM), claiming they could facilitate the approval and release of the fund earmarked for local government programs and projects.

Strict guidelines

He maintained that the DILG adheres strictly to procedures and guidelines on the release of the LGSF and any transactions and engagements that do not conform with these rules “will not be tolerated nor condoned and will be dealt with accordingly.”

Under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, a total of P18.25 billion is allotted for the LGSF, of which P14.035 billion is intended for financial assistance to LGUs for their different programs and projects.

Some P2.16 billion is meant for the Support to the Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which could be used by 864 barangays that had been declared cleared of insurgents.

Another P1.055 billion is intended for the Green Green Green Program, while the remaining P1 billion is for the Support and Assistance Fund for Participatory Budgeting.

Abalos also reminded local government units (LGUs) to exercise caution when handling email correspondences, particularly in the Digital Request Submission for Local Government Support Funds (DRSL) in the DBM app portal.

Significant security risk

“Sharing such details poses a significant risk to the security and integrity of the system and may lead to unauthorized access and potential misuse of sensitive information,” he said.

The DILG chief instead urged LGUs to swiftly report any suspicious or unauthorized activities to the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of Investigation for investigation and appropriate action.

They may also send a report to the DBM public assistance email address at [email protected], the Usapang Budget Natin Facebook Page, or call hotline number 8657-3300 local 2542.