Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. admitted the urgency to review and assess some provisions in the Local Government Code of 1991.

Those that hat need to be reviewed, according to Abalos, include the task of local government units (LGUs) to fund and work on the construction of schools, establishment of tertiary hospitals, development of barangay roads and even the guidelines on the use of electric tricycles.

Abalos felt that these undertakings should be transferred from the LGUs to the national government stressing that not all localities have the capability and resources to handle them.

Abalos expressed concern that more functions and services will be transferred from the national government to LGUs under the devolution process.

While LGUs will receive additional budget due to higher Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) under the devolution, Abalos reminded that the incoming IRA might be lower than the usual because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He warned that this might cause the possibility of the disruption of government services at the local level since the LGUs will be tied-up to more projects with lesser budgets.

Abalos also called for the review in the electric tricycles guidelines when pressed about the regulation on the registration and fare of e-trikes.

He continued that the use of e-trikes were allowed during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic at the time where there was a lack of available public utility vehicles (PUVs). (Chito A. Chavez)