Mindanaotoday.com | DILG-Bukidnon hosts regional forum, guides LGUs to full devolution
MALAYBALAY CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Bukidnon hosted a regional forum to synchronize Devolution Transition Plans (DTPs) between national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs) in view of the Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court ruling.
Rhona Pedraza-Abadilla, DILG Bukidnon provincial director, said while the transition towards full devolution may be challenging, it presents an opportunity for the government and LGUs to elevate their development strategies and find innovative ways to further serve the interests of their communities and constituents.
“This forum is designed to become an avenue for local government units to engage with national government agencies to assist the LGUs in their journey towards full devolution,” she said.
Abadilla also urged local governments to revisit their local development plans and assess how well they align with national and regional priorities, particularly in terms of devolved functions, services, and facilities.
Forum discussion topics include the status of the LGU’s devolution transition plans (DTPs), organizational structure and staffing pattern, updates on NGA DTPs, and full devolution.
Among the functions assigned to local governments based on the Local Government Code are agriculture programs, local infrastructure, environmental services, revenue mobilization, health services, maintenance of peace and order, employment facilitation, transportation, tourism, and housing.
The Mandanas-Garcia ruling was the result of a petition filed before the Supreme Court by Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas and former Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia Jr. about local government shares of internal revenue allotment (IRA).
Last year, then President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order No. 138 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, mandating all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays to prepare their DTPs in close coordination with the concerned national government agencies to guide them towards the full assumption of devolved functions and services that come with more financial resources. (DILG-Bukidnon | PIA-10 | Bukidnon)
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