DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla (left), Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Facebook)

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte has hailed newly-confirmed Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla for backing calls in the Congress for a review of the Local Government Code (LGC).

In particular, the proposed review of the law is geared toward the fiscal autonomy of local government units (LGUs) as well as the streamlining of the glut of bureaucratic orders.

Villafuerte, who like Remulla has an extensive track record of public service at the LGU level, wants to simplify the work of local executives. 

“We are happy that the leadership of the DILG galing po sa LGU kasi importante po iyan (is from the LGU and that's important),” the Bicolano said. 

Remulla told the Commission on Appointments (CA) during its confirmation hearing last Wednesday, Nov. 20 on his ad interim appointment as DILG secretary that a review of the LGC of 1991 is in order, given the implementation of the Supreme Court (SC)’s 2018 decision on the Mandanas-Garcia case, and new developments such as the worsening climate-induced natural calamities that now compel LGU officials to spend more on disaster response.

Villafuerte, the CA majority leader, said that Remulla also backed a management overhaul of our prison system to improve the conditions of local jails along with a review of DILG orders or directives for LGUs, which, in his experience as governor for 11 years, need to be streamlined to actually make it easier for local government executives to do their jobs.   

Remulla was first elected as a local official when he ran—and won—as a member of Cavite’s Sanggunian or provincial legislative board in 1995. He then served as vice governor and, later, as governor, until last October, when President Marcos appointed him to replace DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., who resigned ahead of his senatorial bid in next year’s polls. 

Villafuerte, who is president of the National Unity Party (NUP), explained that in its 2018 decision on the Mandanas-Garcia case, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the “just share” of LGUs from national taxes was not limited to internal revenue tax collections of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and must include customs duty collections of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

In light of the expanded tax share of local governments, the total outlay due them in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget has, following the SC’s 2018 ruling, been renamed as the “National Tax Allocation” share of LGUs or NTA in lieu of the previous “Internal Revenue Allotment” or IRA share, said Villafuerte.

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), LGUs are getting an NTA share of P1.034 trillion next year—comprising P237.96 billion for provinces, P239.05 billion for cities, P350.68 billion for municipalities, and P206.92 billion for the barangays.

Of their respective NTA shares, the LGUs are required to set aside 20 percent for development projects, and 5 percent for their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Funds.

Villafuerte said that he and four more CA members who had served as LGU officials are happy that the President chose an elected local chief executive as DILG chief.

He was referring to Surigao Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Bataan Rep. Albert Raymond Garcia and Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdez who had served as governors of their respective provinces, and Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla who was once mayor of Bacoor City. 

Villafuerte is a former three-term governor of Camarines Sur.