Finance Secretary Ralph Recto on Tuesday directed newly appointed local treasurers for Visayas and Mindanao to act as the nation’s “first line of defense” in fiscal governance to ensure local budgets are executed properly.
Recto declared his marching orders in a message during the ceremonial oath-taking of 195 new local treasurers and assistant treasurers for the country’s central and southern regions on September 8, 2025.
“As our first line of defense of fiscal governance at the local level, we are counting on you not only to guard and manage our resources well. But to ensure the faithful execution of our local budgets,” he said in his message.
The Department of Finance (DOF) secretary’s remarks come as both the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the House of Representatives continue to probe public-funded projects that have turned out to be non-existent — thus, the label “ghost” projects — and other substandard flood-control projects flagged by the Commission on Audit.
The DOF secretary called on the treasurers to combat corruption and uphold the highest standards of transparency and integrity, stressing the need for such vigilance “especially during a time when the clamor for transparency, integrity, and good governance has never been louder.”
“Every hard-earned taxpayer’s money is under scrutiny––as it should be. And we need allies on the ground to keep a vigilant watch on the Filipino people’s money,” he stressed.
Pointing out that “taxes represent the sweat of farmers, the income of workers, and the dreams of parents for their families,” he called on the treasurers to guard the funds carefully, assuring them of the DOF’s support as they strive for efficiency and transparency.
Lawmakers have pointed to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as a hotspot of alleged collusion between officials, legislators and contractors.
The government inquiries have uncovered duplicate projects, padded line items and questionable disbursements that critics say drained billions from the national budget while leaving flood-prone communities vulnerable.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed that those responsible will be held accountable, warning against the “business as usual” culture in public works spending.
The role of local treasurers is crucial in curbing such abuses. By exercising oversight on the ground, they are expected to help plug leakages in public funds and ensure that appropriations are carried out with transparency and integrity. — With Editors Marlon Magtira and Victor Sollorano.
