Davao City—City mayors have expressed their gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte following his announcement that he is exploring options for local governments to immediately avail of their share of the national revenue, as ruled by the Supreme Court in the petition filed by Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas.
Duterte’s statement was met with resounding applause by city mayors who invited the President as their guest of honor at the 69th National Executive Board Meeting of the League of Cities of the Philippines, held at the Dusit Hotel here.
Speaking before local chief executives from across the country, the President stressed that while the timing of the SC decision is not perfect due to major programs already being financed by the national government, his administration will find a way to implement it.
The SC decision will expand the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of LGUs as early as possible, Duterte noted.
One of the options proposed by city mayors that the President is considering is a monetization scheme where LGUs can acquire a loan from the bank according to their expanded IRAs, which the national government can then pay on a later date.
For Bacolod City Mayor and LCP President Bing Leonardia, the president’s statement offers a glimmer of hope for LGUs.
“President Duterte’s remarks only show that he understands and hears the requests of local governments especially us city mayors since he is a former mayor himself. We can finally look forward to receiving what is owed to our cities and, ultimately, to our constituents not in 2022, but as soon as possible,” said Leonardia.
During the closed-door meeting, Duterte also discussed other pressing issues of concern to local governments including peace and order, counterinsurgency, and anti-corruption.
The President also extended an invitation to Leonardia to attend a high-level exploratory meeting in Malacañang this October that will discuss a win-win solution for both the national government and LGUs.
