Siquijor solon proposes increase in LGU’s IRA

CEBU, Philippines - Siquijor Representative Rav Rocamora had filed a bill increasing the internal revenue allotment (IRA) share of local government units, “as an indispensable step towards pushing for greater local autonomy and an eventual shift to federalism.”

Under Rocamora’s House Bill 5900, the IRA increase will be gradual — from the present 40 percent to 60 percent — with 50 percent raise in the first year, 55 percent in the second, and finally 60 percent in the third year.

“It is important that we pave the way towards greater local government empowerment by engendering fiscal responsibility. Our provincial, city, municipalities and barangay governments are the first line of government that the public interacts with. We have to provide them the support so they can properly deliver social services and spur local development,” Rocamora explained his bill’s purpose.

Rocamora said that increasing LGUs’ budgets will better prepare them for an eventual shift towards a federal form of government. “I believe that one of the key elements of a successful shift to a federal form of government is the presence of strong LGUs that are ready to  take on more responsibilities. … Without this phase of preparation, there is a big potential that local government are suddenly caught unprepared and ill-equipped.”

Rocamora further said: “It is highly irresponsible when we see huge savings in national agencies while at the same time far-flung municipalities or barangays do not have adequate access to water, do not have cemented roads or lack school buildings.”

The congressman also introduced in his bill an innovation in computing IRA for LGUs, and this includes factoring municipal waters.

Under the Local Government Code, land area determines the share of an LGU by 25 percent, and Rocamora wanted this changed by including the municipal water area with the land area.

“I think it is a very reasonable solution. Land area is a factor in the amount of IRA allotment for obvious reasons that LGUs with bigger area will incur bigger costs in delivering social services than smaller LGUs with small areas,” he said.

“However, the same argument can be made for LGUs with large municipal waters because LGUs also have to regulate their waters and in the case of LGUs with island barangays they have to provide services for their constituents living in those islands. Note too that fisherfolks and coastal municipalities face bigger development challenges," Rocamora added.

Siquijor is an island province in Central Visayas (Region-7) and is the smallest and poorest province compared to its bigger neighbors, Cebu and Bohol. — Contributed by Carlo Vargas