President Marcos has ordered government agencies to determine the priority core functions and services that must be devolved to the local government units (LGUs) by the end of February next year.

Malacañang said on Monday, Dec. 25, that Marcos gave the directive in a meeting last week, where he cited the need to conduct an analysis first on the operationalization of the full devolution plan and come up with the list of functions that should be delegated to the LGUs.

The funding and schedule of implementation of the functions and services, which is based on LGU capacity and in accordance with minimum standards set by national government agencies, shall be determined after coming up with the definition and after determining the functions and services of the LGUs.

“Should the LGUs lack the funds to implement the functions and services, the national government should have a program to assist them,” Marcos said in the meeting held on Dec. 21.

He tasked the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to conduct a sensitivity analysis on the most that the government can gain from its investments, which include the functions and services to be performed by the LGUs.

The NEDA shall also recommend ways to better implement a phased-in devolution, including its timeline based on LGU capacity.

This would be in addition to the ongoing study on the determinants of functions and services that should be performed by the national government and devolved to LGUs.

The President ordered NEDA to complete the study and submit it to the Office of the President by the end of February 2024.

He likewise directed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in collaboration with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, to come up with a list of basic functions and services that the LGUs should be performing based on their Devolution Transition Plans, and of the national government.

The DILG is given until January 2024 to present the list to the President.