Oath-taking of barangay officials in Tarlac
MANILA, Philippines —Several senators are backing President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to audit the performances of local officials in relation to the administration’s intensified campaign against crime and illegal drugs.
According to Senate local government committee chairman Sonny Angara, he is currently pushing for the passage of proposals seeking to empower local government units and increase their funds to effectively curb crime and proliferation of illegal drugs in barangays.
To date, there are 11 bills filed in the Senate looking to amend the LGU code and to include the value-added tax on imported goods collected by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on the computation of internal revenue allotment (IRA).
This is aside from the measures seeking to increase the IRA to 50 percent from 40 percent share.
According to Senator Angara, appropriated LGU funds are measly to support other programs for their constituents, based on their consultations.
Available data show that 40 percent of 41,902 barangays received IRA of one million or less.
But Senator Antonio Trillanes IV nixed the move, saying this might only bring negative effects to the local communities.
He also slammed Duterte’s proposal to arm village officials and watchmen.
“Walang purpose nito but just to promote the culture of violence, culture of death, after arming them hihikayatin niya itong, barilin niyo yung mga suspetsa niyo na adik o criminal,” said Trillanes. — Nel Maribojoc | UNTV News & Rescue
The post Senators seek to empower, increase LGU funds against crime, drugs appeared first on UNTV News.