MANILA, PH –The Interagency Governing Board (IGB) convened its 9th meeting last 06 October 2023 at the DOF Executive Building, BSP Complex to discuss the LGRP’s project implementation updates and proposed plans. The assumption of the new BLGF Executive Director, Ms. Consolacion Q. Agcaoili as an official member of the IGB was unanimously approved, per the motion of DBM Assistant Secretary Toledo and seconded by NEDA Undersecretary Abad-Santos. The approved resolution also included the adoption of the updated official member and alternate members of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) subject to its submission of the official letter of nomination. 

 Implementation updates of the Local Governance Reform Project (LGRP) were discussed in the meeting that reported the various activities undertaken by each component.  A proposed catch-up plan to ensure timely completion of the project’s deliverables, which also meant a possible project extension was also presented in the said meeting.  However, talks about the proposed project extension may just have to be deferred for now as DOF Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno prefers to see that the project be completed in December 2024, the original project deadline.  FEF representative Dr. Soriano furthered that the proposed catch-up plan must be able to show which specific outputs are for potential re-scoping and project extension. 

 In the same meeting, a proposed Roadmap to Full Digitalization of BLGF Services which is aligned with President BBM’s directive for the immediate digitalization of vital government services was proposed by Executive Director Agcaoili.  The proposed roadmap includes the re-development of the LGU Integrated Financial Tool (LIFT) into the LGRP which aims to upgrade the current system to the current technology that will address the interoperability issue with third-party applications from the LGUs, DBM, COA, and DILG. ED Agcaoili emphasized that the current eSRE system is the core subsystem of the LIFT system. The proposed redevelopment of the eSRE and the LIFT system will be integrated into the LGRP’s QRRPA module in relation to the monthly and quarterly assessment reports.  

 The full digitalization roadmap is envisioned to enhance the current BLGF internal systems for integration and data exchange with the LGRP IT systems and other third-party systems.  Thus, it will enable access to integrated data from various database/sources to have better data representation and analysis for decision-making. NEDA Undersecretary Abad-Santos ruled that the proposed new system of ED Agcaoili “would be granular down to the Barangay level and that the granularity of data would be used for (i) net borrowing capacity of LGUs; and (ii) the necessary data that would be called for by the Income Classification Bill that may turn into a law soon.” 

 Secretary Diokno however, believes that such a proposal may prompt a project re-design and needs to be raised with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through an exploratory meeting