Go lauds EO on delegating functions to LGU

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has expressed his support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 138 which directs the full devolution of certain functions of the executive branch to local governments.

The senator said that he lauds the President’s initiative to transfer some functions of the national government to local government units (LGU) in line with the implementation of the Mandanas ruling by the Supreme Court — which essentially increases national tax allocation of local government units (LGU) and reduces the fiscal space of the national government — as a consequence of devolution.

The lawmaker also explained that with the issuance of the EO, the national government commits itself to the policy of decentralization and accountability of local governments — which will cover all local government units, departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch whose functions are in line with the devolved functions of the LGU under Section 17 of the Local Government Code.

Go stressed that under the executive order, concerned national government agencies and all LGU are tasked to prepare their respective devolution transition plans (DTP) which conform to the guidelines to be jointly issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

He added that a Committee on Devolution or ComDev will also be created to oversee and monitor the implementation of administrative and fiscal decentralization goals of the EO while evaluating the status and monitor the implementation of the DTP of non-government agencies and LGU.

Under the EO, the national government agencies concerned and all LGU are also tasked to prepare their respective devolution transition plans.

Meantime, the DILG — through its Local Government Academy — is tasked to oversee the provision of capacity development intervention for local governments and develop the appropriate mechanisms to ensure efficient utilization of government resources on said effort.

The Interior department will also advance other capacity development strategies, facilitate institutionalization of performance standards and develop performance incentive mechanisms under the Seal of Good Local Governance to promote excellence in local governance.

“I hope that this will bring balanced regional development and equitable distribution of wealth, resources, and opportunities, boosting countryside development and inclusive growth,” Go said.

The senator hopes that the devolution process will provide more accessible social services to Filipinos, and empower local industries and infrastructure development in rural areas as he vowed to continue monitoring preparations and eventual implementation of the EO and provide any legislative support to ensure its success.