General Trias, Cavite – The Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) OIC Executive Director Ma. Pamela P. Quizon presented the BLGF’s key policies, programs, and initiatives to the attendees of the League of Cities and Philippines (LCP) 74th National Executive Board (NEB) Meeting, held on 28 March 2023, at The Bayleaf Hotel in General Trias, Cavite.  

OIC Executive Director Quizon was joined by Ms Laurice Jane P. Navarro – Acting Chief of the BLGF Policy, Planning, Programming, and Standards Division (PPPSD), and Ms Ara Marie P. Bayhon – Policy Development Assistant of the PPPSD.  

In the said meeting, Director Quizon underscored the catalytic role of the BLGF as the Department of Finance (DOF) arm in the effective and sustainable management of the fiscal and financial affairs and resources of local government units (LGUs) under a decentralized environment.  

“The BLGF is vigilant and dedicated in the pursuit of the development and professionalization of its employees, including the local treasury and assessment services in the LGUs”, Quizon said.  

Dir. Quizon highlighted the key legislative priorities on the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform or House Bill No. 6558, a priority bill of the Marcos administration and approved in the Third and Final Reading on 12 December 2022 at the House of Representatives, which aims to improve the valuation of real property through a single valuation base for taxation, regular updating and depoliticization of valuation, and comprehensive electronic database. The Senate Committee on Ways and Means has scheduled a series of technical working group (TWG) meetings to deliberate the said bill.  

In addition, the Income Classification Bill or House Bill No. 7006 was also discussed which proposed for the granting of clear authority to the Secretary of Finance to set income targets and undertake the periodic reclassification of LGUs every three (3) years using the BLGF’s Statement of Receipts and Expenditures (SRE) for setting the income ranges. The said bill was approved by the House on 14 March 2023 and with ongoing coordination meeting with the Senate Committee on Local Government.  

Dir. Quizon also shared the proposed Mandatory Property Insurance which aims to mandate all provinces, cities, and municipalities to insure all government properties with the Government Insurance Fund and provide insurance coverage to assets and properties with government insurable interests.  

Among those who attended was Senator Robinhood C. Padilla, Chairperson of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, who advocated for the proposed amendments and reforms to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, emphasizing the economic provisions and the needed improvements in the local autonomy structure.