Tagbilaran City is chosen as one of the pilot cities in the Philippines for the Local Governance Reform Project (LGRP) of the Department of Finance (DOF)-Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF).
City Mayor Jane Yap personally signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Tagbilaran City and DOF on March 2, 2023 in the presence of DOF Secretary Benjamin Diokno and BLGF Region 7 Director Jessie Doctolero.
City Assessor Fe Almiñe and City Treasurer Hubert Inas also attended the MOA signing held at the Conference Room A, Podium Floor, DOF Building, BSP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Metro Manila, to ensure the smooth rollout of the LGRP.
Only 20 local government units and state universities and colleges have been chosen to pilot the implementation of LGRP to enhance real property tax administration.
During the event, Mayor Yap expressed her gratitude to DOF-BLGF for having chosen Tagbilaran as a pilot city for the project.
“This would complement our on-going efforts to increase our city’s revenues so we can in turn, provide responsive, quality and timely services to Tagbilaranons,” Yap said.
During the MOA signing, Secretary Diokno explained that LGRP is a strategic and comprehensive program that seeks to strengthen the revenue generation capacities of LGUs. It serves as a launch pad for a more efficient, effective, and equitable public service delivery.
LGRP, a four-year project of the Asian Development Bank, will boost LGU revenue generation in three ways: first, by strengthening the operating environment of real property tax generation and management through better policies and institutional structures; second, by enhancing LGU management tools through information technology and modern systems; and third, implementing support programs aimed at enhancing the competencies of local assessors and treasurers.
BENEFITS
Tagbilaran City is expected to benefit from this Local Governance Reform Project
The LGRP is a project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help improve local government revenue mobilization, strengthening LGU performance and delivery of local public service.
Only 20 LGUs were selected nationwide as pilot areas for the project and Tagbilaran City was fortunate to be included as a model city for other LGUs in the Philippines.
The DOF, through the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), will work closely with LGUs to help with the proper implementation of the project.
The LGRP will boost LGU revenue generation by:
● Strengthening the operating environment of real property tax generation and management through better policies and institutional structures;
● Enhancing LGU management tools through information technology and modern systems; and
● Implementing support programs aimed at enhancing the competencies of local assessors and treasurers.
Mayor Yap expressed her gratitude to DOF and ADB for choosing Tagbilaran City as a beneficiary of LGRP. She said that this project will help improve the city’s fiscal capacity and service delivery to its constituents.