By Mortz C. Ortigoza
SAN CARLOS CITY – The mayor of this mango producing city warned Malacanang of uprising by Local Government Units (LGUs)because of the impending decision to reduce the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the LGUs all over the country.
Mayor Julier “Ayoy” Resuello said the IRA reduction would push through the country into another round of hardships.
Recently, Budget Secretary Butch Abad said that the IRA slash was a result of the sharp decrease in the collection of revenues by the national government in 2009 as a result of global economic crisis and the government’s tax eroding measures that were passed on that year.
Senator Chiz Escudero however disputed the planners of the national government.
He said there is still P 161 billion idle money in the national coffer. He said this sum can be used to fill the gap of the IRA for the LGUs.
He said local government is the front liner in basic social services.
"When IRA is cut there follow the disruption of health services, food security, infrastructure and public works like school buildings and barangay roads," he declared.
Resuello doubted if the Palace could push through its reduction plan.
“Kung babaan nila iyong IRA ng mga local government units, malaking problema kay P-Noy (President Benigno Aquino III) iyan. Maraming a-alma diyan. Isa na ang San Carlos,” he stressed.
He also lamented the P22 million this city has lost this year after the Supreme Court upheld lately, in a historic roller coaster flip-flops, the petition of the 16 towns for cityhood.
The inclusion of these towns as new cities gnawed at a significant portion of the billion of pesos IRA’s pie that should be appropriated to the present 122-strong League of Cities of the Philippines.
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