Guv hopes Duterte to favorably act on LGUs’ IRA share

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is hoping that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will act favorably on the appeal of the League of Provinces in the Philippines on the implementation of the Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) share in 2020.

Lacson said he will personally ask the President if they can meet this week during the MassKara Festival.

Duterte has confirmed with Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia that he will join the MassKara highlights this week.

Lacson is referring to the latest decision of the Supreme Court on the petition filed by Batangas Governor Hernilando Mandanas on the ‘just share’ of local government units (LGUs) from the IRA.

A Rappler report said the just share of LGUs must be computed and sourced from all national taxes and not just from the national internal revenue taxes.

“Implementing the ruling of the Supreme Court will enable the LGUs to efficiently and expediently serve the Filipino people and hasten the delivery of much needed and long delayed basic services,” Mandanas said.

With this, the 2019 proposed budget of P640.6 billion allotment to LGUs will increase by about 50% due to the inclusion of the Bureau of Customs collection of national taxes, including tariffs and custom duties.

“This is the real meaning of bottom-up budgeting and inclusive development. With increased funds, the real needs of the community will be attended by the community. Shifting money from the national government to the local government will mean devolved services can now be really funded, and this will also reduce underspending and corruption,” Mandanas added.

Lacson said that last July 11, Duterte met with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and LPP national president Governor Presbitero Velasco.

Velasco is among those who signed the Mandanas petition.