Press Release
September 30, 2018

ANGARA: LGUS DESERVE FULL AUTONOMY, MORE FUNDS

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).

Addressing 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 ay bukas sa ideya ni Pangulong Duterte na dapat mas maraming kapangyarihan at mas maraming pondo ang napupunta po sa mga LGU," Angara said.

"Suportado po natin 'yan. Pwede rin naman nating amyendahan ang Local Government Code para dagdagan ang share ng local government mula sa sharing ngayon na 60 percent para sa national government at 40 percent sa local government," he added.

Pending such amendment to the LGC, Angara said it is 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.

Angara 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 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.

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.

He noted that the LGC under Republic Act 7160 has remained relatively unchanged since its enactment in 1991.

The Angara panel has filed 11 bills to update the LGC. The proposals include increasing the share of LGUs in the IRA, updating requisites for creating LGUs, simplifying local taxes to improve tax compliance, enhancing the taxing powers of LGUs and the use of national wealth in local development, among others.

News Latest News Feed