TANAUAN CITY -- Tanauan Mayor Antonio Halili on Wednesday expressed his support for the shift to a federal form of government.
In a press conference at the city hall here, Halili said that small localities would benefit economically from a federal form of government.
"Being a leader of a small city such as Tanauan City, I am supportive of federalism in such a way that the bulk of the IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) will be given to the local government units, particularly in the sharing of revenues," he said.
“It’s not bad to experiment (on) a new system (federalism), which can be refined,” he added.
Halili pointed out that under the federal form of government, there will be “more empowerment of the local government units, such as the acquisition of an ‘entry-level vehicle’, which needs a permit from the national government, will be facilitated.”
However, under the present system of government, the city mayor said, “the power is very centralized, which should be decentralized.”
He noted that the IRA is still not released, even though it is provided for in the General Appropriations Act, but somehow authorities find a way to delay the release of the funds.
The city of Tanauan has a PHP1.25-billion budget in 2018, up from PHP750 million in 2013, or an increase of PHP100 million a year on the average. (PNA)
