The full implementation of the Mandanas ruling will speed up the achievement of ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ movement goals, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas said on Wednesday.
In an interview, he expressed his confidence that local government units (LGUs) can effectively work under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in the realization of the national government’s plans in the remaining years.
“In his term, the local government has been given additional powers. It shows that the executive branch is just one all under the president while there are also some functions that can be done more effectively in the local level,” he told Manila Standard.
In the said landmark case, the Supreme Court ruled that just share of LGUs from the national taxes is not only based on the national internal revenue taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, but also on all national taxes.
He emphasized that “budget appropriation is an automatic release and does not have to go through the congress since it cannot do anything outside the mandate of the Constitution.” Pot Chavez
Mandanas hopes the national government will provide continued assistance to further capacitate LGUs to deliver better and faster services directly to the people. Despite continuing challenges that needs to be resolved, he said the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday was very specific and clear making it the best version compared to other presidents.
