Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos prodded on Sunday, July 17, local government units (LGUs) to initiate transformative programs to ease the financial burden of the public.

“With the recent spike in prices of commodities and the aftermath of surging inflation, LGUs must gear towards transformative programs that will cushion the economic challenges felt mainly by the poorest of the poor of our constituents,” Abalos said.

“Let us confront these economic hurdles by coming up with innovations such as R’Cebu 2022 that will ultimately benefit the people we serve,” he added.  

Abalos said transformative initiatives such as the R’Cebu Program will help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) recover from economic challenges while raising awareness about the tourism sites and destinations of the Province and thereby attracting more visitors.

The R’Cebu program is a collaboration project of the Gokongwei group’s Robinsons Galleria Cebu and the Cebu provincial government to support the local cottage industries particularly the farmers, fishermen, artisans, as well as MSMEs owners showcasing unique and diverse products, offerings, and services, various delicacies, and top tourist spots of respective municipalities and barangays in the Province of Cebu.

“Ngayong patuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, malaking tulong para sa ating mga kababayan ang programang ito. Karamihan sa ating mga nasasakupan ngayon ay naghihikahos na dahil sa nagmamahal na presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin (Now with the continuous rise of commodities, this program is a big boost to our countrymen. Most of our constituents right now are in difficult times due to the surging costs of prime commodities),” Abalos said.

He added the transformative programs are what the country needs to sustain the recovery from the devastating socio-economic impacts brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Isa po iyan sa mga tututukan ng ating pamahalaan sa mga darating na araw, kaya inaasahan ko po ang inyong suporta at pakikiisa upang ating maibsan ang paghihirap ng ating mga mamamayan (That is one of the things that our government will focus on in the coming days that is why I am asking for your support and cooperation to ease the burden of our citizens),’’ he said.

Likewise, Abalos commended the brains behind the said innovative partnership between the LGUs and the private sector saying that “this is yet another resounding proof of the great things that we can accomplish when all of us, the government, private sector and other stakeholders work in unison.”

“I commend the Provincial Government of Cebu led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, our LCEs, and the Robinsons Galleria Cebu for coming up with this program that supports the local cottage industries,” Abalos said.