Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) Executive Director Niño Raymond B. Alvina, together with Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Antonette C. Tionko, and BLGF Regional Office No. V Regional Director Anastacia R. Llaneta, spearheaded the inauguration ceremony of the first training center of the BLGF in Legazpi City, Albay.

“The BLGF, being the forefront of promoting good local fiscal governance, has significantly transformed itself to focus more on empowering local government units to develop strategic, sound, and effective decisions and policies sustaining the growing needs of the respective communities,” Undersecretary Tionko said in a keynote message.

Undersecretary Tionko thanked the BLGF for being steadfast in supporting the DOF reform agenda for the LGUs under the Duterte Administration, through the implementation of the Standardized Examination and Assessment for Local Treasury Service (SEAL) Program and Local Governance Reform Project (LGRP), equipping the local treasurers and assessors with updated tools, infrastructure, and facilities, to better serve the people with a high level of competency and efficiency.

Executive Director Alvina expressed his gratitude to DOF Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez and Undersecretary Tionko for greenlighting the project and providing budgetary support for the completion of the training center designed for local treasurers, assessors and stakeholders.

“This is the place where we will continue to build your capacities, our aspirations, and achievement of our shared goals,” Executive Director Alvina said.

The BLGF Regional Office No. V Training Center is the first training facility in the fifteen (15) Regional Offices of the BLGF, marking a milestone in the Bureau’s 34th founding anniversary. The Training Center, with a total floor area of 720 sq. m, with two (2) well-equipped meeting rooms and three (3) functions rooms, is envisioned to help deliver the reforms for local fiscal sustainability and be a strategic facility for learning.

Moving forward, the new Training Center will assist in the BLGF’s launch and implementation of the SEAL Program’s Advance Competency for Local Treasury Examination (ACLTE), the 3rd and highest level, together with the capacity programs in response to the devolution program under the Executive Order No. 138, s. 2021, in the next few months. Also, in the pipeline in the next three (3) years, is the roll out of the LGRP to introduce real property tax administration and management reforms, and construction of additional three (3) training centers in the country.
The said ceremony was commended by Province of Sorsogon Governor Francis Joseph G. Escudero, through a recorded virtual message, and also attended by 2nd District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda, Legazpi City Mayor Noel E. Rosal, Councilor Vince Baltazar, BLGF Service Directors Ma. Pamela P. Quizon and Ricardo L. Bobis, Jr., BLGF Regional Directors Jessie B. Doctolero (RO No. VII) and Melvin Joy L. Yu (RO No. XIII), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Virgilio C. Eduarte, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Atty. Anthony C. Nuyda, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Regional Director Rozil R. Lozares, Bureau of Treasury (BTr) Regional Director Everette Villaraza, and representatives from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), and provincial and city treasury offices of Albay, Masbate and Naga City.