Marcos, Robredo Reunite at Palace for Expanded LGU Fund Launch

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo once again found themselves in the same room, just days after jointly inspecting flood control projects in Naga City, this time at Malacañang Palace for the launch of the government’s expanded Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

The two former political rivals were seen together during the rollout of the “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program, which aims to increase financial support for local government units nationwide. Also present during the event was Ralph Recto, Executive Secretary and the alter ego of the President, along with Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.

Photos circulating online showed Robredo, Sotto, and Recto seated at the same table during lunch inside the Palace, marking Robredo’s first visit to Malacañang since the 2022 presidential elections.

The reunion comes amid growing speculation over potential political realignments ahead of the 2028 elections, particularly following Vice President Sara Duterte’s declaration of her presidential bid.

For 2026, the national government raised the LGSF allocation to more than P34 billion, bringing the total available support for LGUs to nearly P58 billion, the highest level on record.

In his speech, Marcos outlined that the expanded fund would be used to support priority initiatives including rice assistance for over five million families, construction of health facilities, development of evacuation centers, improvement of farm-to-market roads, as well as rural electrification and water supply projects.

He also noted that approximately P1.19 trillion in National Tax Allotment has already been released to LGUs this year.

“This is more than 15 percent higher than in 2025. This means that our LGUs are now better able to fund the programs their constituents need,” the President said in Filipino.

Recto, for his part, emphasized that LGUs must be treated as partners in development rather than mere beneficiaries of national programs.

“And we apply the same in practice. According to the President: there should be no politics. No political preferences,” he said in Filipino.

“Because the needs of the people have no party. And the response to those needs should have no color,” Recto added.

Marcos had earlier stressed during his Naga visit that “differences in politics should never prevent us from working together for our people,” adding, “Nation first. Personal agendas later.”