Independent minority solon, Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman publicly complimented Vice President Sara Duterte for seeing eye-to-eye with him on the topic of devolution of functions from the national government to the local government.

This took place Wednesday, Sept. 14 during the House Committee on Appropriations' consideration of the proposed 2023 budget of the Department of Education (DepEd), which is headed by Duterte.
During his interpellation of the DepEd contingent led by Duterte, Lagman said, "Let me first compliment the secretary (Duterte) for her clear statement that even the city of Davao cannot finance or address the shortage of school buildings."
The veteran congressman was referring to the lady official's statement during her budget presentation wherein she said, " I believe even Davao City cannot address the classroom shortage in our city."
Duterte is a former multiple term Davao mayor.
Also referring to the DepEd secretary, Lagman said, "I'm happy to note that she is not really in favor of the devolution at this time of local projects to be funded by LGUs (local government units)."
During her presentation, Duterte called for the lifting of a Department of Budget and Management-National Budget Memorandum (DBM-NBM) that would loosen the rule on the funding of classrooms in LGUs by the national government.
At the heart of the discussion on devolution is whether or not LGUs are ready or capable of handling functions--such as the construction of classrooms--that the national government would normally bankroll or carry out.
At any rate, Lagman made clear before the appropriations panel that he supported the passage of DepEd's proposed P709-billion budget for 2023.
"I would like to place on record that I've always been supportive of the budget of the under the previous secretaries. And I will be consistent with that support under the leadership of madame Vice president, the concurrent secretary of education," he said.
The Bicolano had been a consistent critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the incumbent Vice President's father.