PRESIDENT Duterte has ordered the full devolution of the provision of basic services and facilities to local government units (LGUs) by 2024 to allow the national government to “assume more strategic and steering functions to address persistent development issues.”
The President, in issuing Executive Order 138 on June 1, formed the Committee on Devolution (ComDev), which will be co-chaired by the secretaries of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to oversee the transfer of functions and services.
Other members of the ComDev would include the executive secretary, the socioeconomic planning secretary, the finance secretary and the presidents of the League of Provinces, League of Cities, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Liga ng mga Barangay ng Pilipinas, and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines.
The President directed the national government agencies and local governments to prepare their “devolution transition plans” to conform to the guidelines to be issued by the DBM and DILG.
“The national government is fully committed to the policy of decentralization enshrined in the Constitution and relevant laws which are aimed at developing capabilities of local government units to deliver social services and critical facilities to their constituents, increase productivity and employment, and promote local economic growth,” the EO read.
It added that the government is also committed in ensuring accountability, competence, professionalism and transparency of local leaders through the development of institutional systems that uphold and strengthen their capacities for managing public resources.
The EO also said that basic services and facilities that will be fully devolved shall be funded from the LGUs’ share in the proceeds of national taxes and other local revenues.
The LGUs’ share from national taxes is expected to increase starting 2022 with the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling on the Mandanas case. The fund hike is set to empower the LGUs in providing basic services and facilities to their constituents, and aid them in the effective discharge of the devolved duties and functions.
