Senator Sonny Angara is backing moves that would give more power and funds to local government units (LGUs), whether under a federal form of government being pushed by President Rodrigo Duterte or through changes to the 27-year-old Local Government Code (LGC).
Speaking before local officials of Siquijor province, Angara said that as chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, he was not closing the door to federalism if the intention was to give meaningful political and fiscal autonomy to LGUs.
“Umuugong po ang federalism all over the country. Tayo naman ay bukas dyan sa idea ni Pangulong Duterte na dapat mas maraming kapangyarihan at mas maraming pondo ang napupunta po sa mga LGU,” Angara said.
(Federalism is gaining support across the country. I am open to the idea of President Duterte to give LGUs more governmental powers and funding).
Pending such amendment to the LGC, Angara said it was important that LGUs get their rightful share of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling on the petition filed by Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas.
The High Court ruled that the “just share” of LGUs should be sourced from “all national taxes and not only national internal revenue taxes.” The government has filed a motion for reconsideration, which the SC has yet to rule on.
“LGUs must be given a more active role in nation-building by providing them governmental powers and full autonomy in the delivery of basic services.”
“Suportado po natin ‘yan kaya pwede rin nating amyendahan ang Local Government Code para ‘yung sharing na 60 percent para sa national government at 40 percent sa local government, pwede nating dagdagan ‘yung share ng local government kapag ‘yan ang gusto ng mga local government natin,” he added.
(I am supporting that (President’s idea to give LGUs more governmental powers and funding). We can amend the Local Government Code and make the sharing 60 percent for the national government and 40 percent for the local government. We can increase the share of local governments if that is what they want).
Angara also urged Siquijor local officials to support the Mandanas petition, as they themselves will benefit should the SC rule with finality in favor of Mandanas.
“Ang matatanggap ng LGUs all over the country ay P200 bilyon—hindi po milyon—P200 bilyon. Paghahatian na po ‘yan ng lahat ng 81 provinces, 140 cities, 1,400 municipalities, and the tens of thousands of barangays all over the Philippines,” Angara pointed out.
(LGUs all over the country will get P200 billion – not million- P200 billion. This will be distributed to all the 81 provinces, 140 cities, 1,400 municipalities, and the tens and thousands of barangays all over the Philippines).
Angara, a former congressman representing the lone district of Aurora province, believes that LGUs must be given a more active role in nation-building by providing them governmental powers and full autonomy in the delivery of basic services.
“We can amend the Local Government Code and make the sharing 60 percent for the national government and 40 percent for the local government. We can increase the share of local governments if that is what they want.”
Together with members of the Senate Committee on Local Government, Angara has been going around the country to conduct public consultations not only on the proposed shift to federal government but, more importantly, on various legislative measures to revisit the LGC.
He noted that the LGC under Republic Act No. 7160 has remained relatively unchanged since its enactment in 1991.
Since 2016, the Angara panel has been focusing on nine areas of concern in order to come up with proposed measures that would somehow update the LGC. These are: strengthening the LGUs, barangay reform, metropolitanization/inter-local cooperation, strategic projects, LGU creation, oversight functions, human resources, competitiveness and ease of doing business, and financing.
Based on these areas of concern, at least four reform measures and bills have been formulated and are now being considered by the committee. These measures include the “Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice Bill,” situs of taxation, direct remittance of national wealth taxes, and continuous review of the LGC.
The Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice Bill, as proposed by Senate President Koko Pimentel and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, seeks to increase the internal revenue allotment of LGUs to 50 percent from the current 40 percent, to enable them to effectively perform their duties as front liners to their constituents.
