The Philippine Councilors League (PCL) recognized the importance of training local government units (LGUs) to handle the increased funds, and the devolution of national government functions due to the Mandanas ruling.
Atty. Raul Corro, national chairperson of PCL, stressed the need for LGUs to have a devolution transition plan.
"Iba-iba ang sitwasyon ng bawat LGU kaya napakahalaga na pakialaman itong devolution transition plan. Baka yung pondo, kung hindi alam ng isang barangay captain na gastusin iyan, sayang ang pera ng taong-bayan," Corro said on Wednesday, March 6, during DILG sa DZRH Breaktime.
Corro, a member of the Muntinlupa City municipal council, assured that PCL, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), as well as the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, will help LGUs adapt to their new functions and services.
He said that PCL provides regular capacity-development programs, which include seminars, and workshops for local legislators.
"Itong mga kapangyarihan na binibigay sa national kung hindi naman alam ng mga konsehal kung ano ang kanilang gagawin, hindi nila alam kung ano ang kanilang trabaho, wala rin mangyayari sa ating local government," Corro remarked.
Corro particularly highlighted the Continuing Local Legislative Education Program, a quarterly seminar that PCL holds.
"Ang seminar namin ay hindi theories. We are talking about model ordinances already being successfully implemented in one LGU that can be replicated in another LGU," the councilor shared.
Under the Mandanas-Garcia ruling, the National Tax Allotment, also known as the Internal Revenue Allotment, of LGUs should come from all national taxes and not just national internal revenue taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The 2018 ruling of the Supreme Court led to the issuance of Executive Order No. 138 which directs the full devolution of certain functions provided by national government agencies to LGUs.
