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Devolution order not alternative to Charter change: PBBM

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

March 22, 2023, 4:30 pm

<p>President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (File photo)</p>

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (File photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the previous administration's executive order mandating the full devolution of basic services from the national government agencies to the local government units (LGUs) is not an alternative to the proposed Charter amendments being pushed in Congress.

In a media interview after attending the Philippine Army’s 126th founding anniversary in Taguig City, Marcos said the Charter change efforts done by Congress are directed at the economic provisions of the Constitution, noting that the initiative is different from former president Rodrigo Duterte's devolution order under Executive Order (EO) 138, which gives more responsibilities and autonomy to LGUs.

“No. The Charter change efforts are directed at the economic provisions of the Constitution, as far as I understand. And so that’s what that is about,” he said.

“And the reason given by the proponents in the House and those in the Senate is that they need to be changed because these conditions have changed. And for us to take full advantage of the new economy, we have to amend the Constitution. So that’s not the same thing,” he added.

Marcos said his administration will re-examine EO 138 in line with the Supreme Court's Mandanas-Garcia ruling, stressing that it’s very important to “get it right.”

He said lower class communities would be at a disadvantage if functions are devolved to them despite the extra internal revenue allotment (IRA) as it is contrary to the spirit of the high court ruling.

“The conclusion that we arrived at is that hindi pwedeng (it shouldn't be) one size fits all. Iba-iba kasi (Each case should be treated differently)," he said.

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said President Marcos gave a marching order to review the allocation of responsibilities, programs and projects of both the Executive branch and the LGUs to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of public services.

“We were tasked by the President to study the projects and programs whose implementation will remain with the national government dahil national government lang ang may kayang gawin itong mga proyekto na ito, at kung ano namang mga proyekto ang idi-devolve natin sa ating local government units (because the national government is the only one that can implement them, and which projects will be devolved to the local government units),” she said.

Pangandaman said the government will also provide continuous capacity development interventions for the full devolution of certain functions and services to the LGUs, which will be done by the DBM, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Finance.

“Rest assured that the DBM will provide support to capacitate our LGUs, especially those who are disadvantaged and lagging,” Pangandaman said in a Palace press briefing on Tuesday.

Citing EO 138, she said disadvantaged and lagging LGUs will receive financial assistance through the Growth Equity Fund (GEF) to help them fully implement their devolved functions and services.

She also noted that the current administration is proactively listening to the inputs and concerns raised by LGUs on the implementation of full devolution.

Full devolution promotes decentralization, as well as the increase in just share in all national taxes and revenues for LGUs as provided for in the Mandanas-Garcia ruling.

It advocates the provision of a more responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through a system of decentralization whereby LGUs shall be given more autonomy in managing their resources, under the premise that LGUs are in a better position to address the basic needs of their constituents and can therefore deliver better services.

The Supreme Court, in the Mandanas Garcia case, ruled that all collections of national taxes, except those accruing to special purpose funds and special allotments for the utilization and development of the national wealth, should be included in the computation of the base of the just share of the LGUs. (PNA)


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