Robredo seeks changes in 1991 Local Govt Code

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo on Friday pushed for changes in the 20-year-old Local Government Code of the Philippines that will increase internal revenue allotment (IRA) for provinces and giver good performing local government units "incentives." Under the Local Government Code of 1991, LGUs are entitled to an IRA equivalent to 40 percent of the national internal revenue taxes collected three years before the money is disbursed. Robredo said the IRA for LGUs should be increased by 12.5 percent to 45 percent. Robredo said the Local Government Code of the Philippines should have actually been reviewed as early as 1996. "Dapat talagang balangkasin ang Local Government Code... Kailangan ng dagdag na kakayahan at kapangyarihan, pati na kapangyarihan sa pananalapi," said Robredo. LGU IRAs are further sub-divided among the province (23 percent), cities (23 percent), municipalities (34 percent), and barangays (20 percent). The share of a province, a city, municipality, and a barangay will also have to be based on a formula that takes in population, land area, and equal sharing as factors. Robredo made the appeal to amend the Local Government Code at the launch of "Biyaheng Pinoy: Tapat na Palakad, Bayang Maunlad" in Quezon City. "Biyaheng Pinoy" was set up to celebrate 20 years of local autonomy in the Philippines as provided under the Local Government Code of 1991. With Robredo during the launch were several local government officials from all over the Philippines. Performance based reward Aside from pouring in more funds to LGUs, Robredo also wanted LGUs to be "rewarded" based on the performance of their functions and compliance with the Department of Interior and Local Government's Full-Disclosure Policy. Under the policy, local chief executives must post their financial transactions and expenditures in "conspicuous places" in their localities and on their respective government websites. (See: Robredo to LGUs: Post transaction reports public places) "Mas mainan kung sino ang nagpe-perform, mas malaki ang kapangyarihan na binibigay sa kanya. Dapat tugma ang incentives sa performance," according to the secretary. Robredo said local government officials who ultimately fail to comply with the full-disclosure policy will be slapped with charges. "Sasampahan natin ng kaso. Kailangan nilang managot," he said. Currently, Robredo said more than 866 provinces, cities, and municipalities made it to the list of local governments that passed the criteria of the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) for excellence in local governance. — VS, GMA News