CELSO: P115-M IRA CUT RISK INFRA PROJECTS
ZAMBOANGA CITY (CITY HALL/PR) - - Citing as “grossly unfair,” this southern port city joined 119 other cities across the country in the protest of the conversion of 16 municipalities despite of not meeting the requirements.
The conversion brought the consequent Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) reduction effective this year.
Mayor Celso Lobregat said the impending decrease by P115 million in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of the city this year due to the conversion of 16 municipalities into cities, will greatly affect the delivery of services including the implementation of infrastructure projects.
Zamboanga City is the third hardest hit by the IRA reduction at P114.971 million. Supposedly, the city would receive P1.166 billion in IRA share this year but this was reduced to P1.051 billion after the conversion of the 16 municipalities.
As compared to the 2007 figure of P1.015 billion, Zamboanga City’s IRA increase was supposed to be P150.8 million but after the conversion, the increase became P35.87 million or a difference (in increase) of P114.97 million.
“We are not against the conversion of municipalities as long as they meet the requirements”, Mayor Lobregat stressed.
The League of Cities, the alliance of the 120 existing cities in the country, in a paid advertisement in a national daily the other day declared its protest against the conversion of the municipalities sans the requirements as mandated in the Local Government Code of 1991.
According to the League of Cities, the law requires “among others a P100 million locally generated income in order to be a city but the 13th Congress in 2007 enacted cityhood laws which exempted 16 cities from this requirement”.
The paid ad stressed that the 2008 IRA share of the 120 existing cities is reduced from P14.3 percent to only P4.7 percent or a loss of P4 billion. Davao City is number one in the list with a potential loss of P194 million; second is Puerto Princesa with a loss of P144.4 million. Santiago City is 4th with a loss of P81.8 million; 5th is Iligan City with a loss of P68.8 million; 6th is Butuan City with a loss of P68.1 million and 7th is Calbayog with a loss of P65.8 million.
What is worst, the League said, House Bill 24 which seeks to convert all capital towns of province into cities and exempting them from income requirements, has been passed at the committee level in Congress that will in effect result to an additional 27 new cities.
The League calls for a moratorium on the creation of new cities until a more in-depth study “is undertaken for a more rational basis for cityhood”.
Lobregat on Monday will lead city officials and employees in staging the city level protest action. Mayors of the 119 other cities will replicate the move in their areas during the flag raising ceremony.
Black armbands will be worn by all employees and officials and other stakeholders and the Philippine flag will be flown in half mast. The mayor will read a manifesto.
The 16 municipalities converted into cities are Batac (Ilocos Norte); Tayabas (Quezon); Catar (Cebu); Bogo (Cebu); Naga (Cebu); Borongan (Eastern Samar); Baybay (Leyte); Catbalogan (Western Samar); Lamitan (Basilan); El Salvador (Misamis); Mati (Davao); Cabadbaran (Agusan Norte); Boyugon (Agusan Sur); Tandag (Surigao Sur); Gijolngan (Negros Oriental) and Tabuc (Kalinga).
Two municipalities converted into cities followed the requirements, these are Navotas and San Juan, all located in the National Capital Region. (Sheila Covarrubias/PIO Zamboanga City Hall)
The conversion brought the consequent Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) reduction effective this year.
Mayor Celso Lobregat said the impending decrease by P115 million in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of the city this year due to the conversion of 16 municipalities into cities, will greatly affect the delivery of services including the implementation of infrastructure projects.
Zamboanga City is the third hardest hit by the IRA reduction at P114.971 million. Supposedly, the city would receive P1.166 billion in IRA share this year but this was reduced to P1.051 billion after the conversion of the 16 municipalities.
As compared to the 2007 figure of P1.015 billion, Zamboanga City’s IRA increase was supposed to be P150.8 million but after the conversion, the increase became P35.87 million or a difference (in increase) of P114.97 million.
“We are not against the conversion of municipalities as long as they meet the requirements”, Mayor Lobregat stressed.
The League of Cities, the alliance of the 120 existing cities in the country, in a paid advertisement in a national daily the other day declared its protest against the conversion of the municipalities sans the requirements as mandated in the Local Government Code of 1991.
According to the League of Cities, the law requires “among others a P100 million locally generated income in order to be a city but the 13th Congress in 2007 enacted cityhood laws which exempted 16 cities from this requirement”.
The paid ad stressed that the 2008 IRA share of the 120 existing cities is reduced from P14.3 percent to only P4.7 percent or a loss of P4 billion. Davao City is number one in the list with a potential loss of P194 million; second is Puerto Princesa with a loss of P144.4 million. Santiago City is 4th with a loss of P81.8 million; 5th is Iligan City with a loss of P68.8 million; 6th is Butuan City with a loss of P68.1 million and 7th is Calbayog with a loss of P65.8 million.
What is worst, the League said, House Bill 24 which seeks to convert all capital towns of province into cities and exempting them from income requirements, has been passed at the committee level in Congress that will in effect result to an additional 27 new cities.
The League calls for a moratorium on the creation of new cities until a more in-depth study “is undertaken for a more rational basis for cityhood”.
Lobregat on Monday will lead city officials and employees in staging the city level protest action. Mayors of the 119 other cities will replicate the move in their areas during the flag raising ceremony.
Black armbands will be worn by all employees and officials and other stakeholders and the Philippine flag will be flown in half mast. The mayor will read a manifesto.
The 16 municipalities converted into cities are Batac (Ilocos Norte); Tayabas (Quezon); Catar (Cebu); Bogo (Cebu); Naga (Cebu); Borongan (Eastern Samar); Baybay (Leyte); Catbalogan (Western Samar); Lamitan (Basilan); El Salvador (Misamis); Mati (Davao); Cabadbaran (Agusan Norte); Boyugon (Agusan Sur); Tandag (Surigao Sur); Gijolngan (Negros Oriental) and Tabuc (Kalinga).
Two municipalities converted into cities followed the requirements, these are Navotas and San Juan, all located in the National Capital Region. (Sheila Covarrubias/PIO Zamboanga City Hall)
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