By Rachel Magday
The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has once again demonstrated its excellence in governance and fiscal management by securing the fourth spot nationwide for year-on-year growth in local source revenues for 2023.
This prestigious recognition was awarded during the 37th anniversary of the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) and stakeholders recognition ceremony, held at Seda Bay, Manila, with Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto presiding over the event.
Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito, accompanied by Provincial Treasurer Rhoda S. Moreno, proudly accepted the award, highlighting the province’s remarkable 68.20 percent increase in local source revenues. This achievement underscores Nueva Vizcaya’s effective strategies in revenue generation, fiscal discipline, and economic development initiatives.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our local government and the people of Nueva Vizcaya,” said Governor Gambito. “Our commitment to innovative governance and fiscal responsibility has paved the way for this success, and we will continue to strive for excellence in serving our community. We are not only setting a benchmark for other provinces but also ensuring a brighter future for our constituents by fostering sustainable economic growth.”
Provincial Treasurer Moreno added, “The remarkable escalation of our local sources is the result of the various innovative approaches introduced by the Provincial Treasury coupled with the tax ordinances passed by the SP granting discounts and providing convenience for our taxpayers to pay in staggered payments without penalties, and of course, the strong support of our Governor, Atty. Jose Gambito, to our revenue generation activities geared toward the increase of our locally-sourced revenues.”
The accolade was part of the BLGF’s initiative to acknowledge top-performing local government units in strengthening local government finance for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, as outlined in BLGF Memorandum Circular 017-202, dated August 19.
The data supporting these achievements were drawn from the Statements of Receipts and Expenditures (SRE) reports for FY 2019, 2022, and 2023. These reports, submitted by Local Treasurers, were meticulously evaluated by the Bureau of Local Financial Data Analysis Division (LFDAD) and verified by the concerned BLGF regional offices.
Nueva Vizcaya stands out as the only province from the Cagayan Valley region to rank in the top ten for local revenue growth in 2023, showcasing its leadership and innovative governance. Other provinces in the top ten include Negros Occidental, Camarines Sur, North Cotabato, Misamis Occidental, Zambales, Palawan, Nueva Ecija, Sorsogon, and Davao Oriental.
