The League of Cities of the Philippines will hold a general assembly on Friday (July 16, 2021) to discuss strategies to implement the Devolution Transition Plans of national government agencies.
Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia will preside over the meeting that was called following the issuance of Executive Order No. 138 by President Rodrigo Duterte which supports the full devolution of certain national government services to local government units beginning next year.
“We thank President Duterte for mapping out the implementation guidelines for the devolution of services to local governments,” Leonardia said.
“Now is the time for both levels of government to collaborate and ensure that plans are aligned and important government functions are properly turned over to LGUs so we can better serve our constituencies,” he added.
The event will invite key officials from the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of the Interior and Local Government who will relay relevant updates on EO No. 138 and the Joint Memorandum Circular on the Preparation of Local Devolution Transition Plans (DTPs).
Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development will present in detail their respective functions and services that will be devolved to cities.
Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia, who is the lead convener of the Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Bloc of the 18th Congress, will also grace the event to introduce the Philippine Creative Cities Network, an organization that aims to support cities with prominent creative industries.
Earlier, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said EO No. 138 will ensure that the policy of decentralization as enshrined in the Constitution and the Local Government Code, as well as the increase in just share in national taxes for LGUs as provided for in the Mandanas-Garcia ruling of the Supreme Court, will be carried out systematically and smoothly.
“Under full devolution, many good things are coming our LGUs’ way and the public in general starting next year,” Año said.
