PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has urged local government units (LGUs) to look into partnering with the private sector for the financing of projects in their respective areas.Marcos said the digitalization will play a big part in the private-public partnerships (PPP) especially in efforts to robust economic recovery and digital transformation in the country.“I think this is the way forward, and I encourage all our local government units to be open to the possibilities of PPPs (private-public partnerships) and to have private-public partnerships, especially in your areas,” he said in a meeting with members of the League of Cities of the Philippines in Malacañang on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.“Digitalization is going to be a very natural fit for something like PPPs,” he added.Marcos also enjoined the LGUs to take part in his administration’s increased focus on infrastructure.He said foreign envoys who paid courtesy calls to him offered help especially in funding big-ticket projects including official development assistance (ODA) and joint ventures.“Well, you’re the local government, you know that already. Local government generally cannot do it by itself. We have to find partners, we have to find local partners, we have to find investors. Sanay na kayo diyan,” said Marcos.Marcos also encouraged local chief executives to become the “driving force” in promoting economic transformation amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.“But even at the national level, we are encouraging it. I hope that you continue to do that and be the driving force behind our economic transformation. I have always said that some of the best talent in government is in the LGUs, in the cities, in the governors, in the mayors,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)