President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered national agencies to analyze government functions that can be devolved to local government units (LGUs).
The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) said Marcos issued the directive as part of a full transfer responsibilities, but noted the importance of first defining and identifying the priority core functions and services that should be given to 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 a December 21 meeting, according to a PCO statement.
The President also ordered the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) to conduct a “sensitivity analysis” to identify the maximum benefits the government can derive from its investments, including the functions and services to be performed by the LGUs.
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He also tasked Neda to recommend ways to better implement a phased-in devolution, including its timeline based on LGU capacity.
He gave the Neda until the end of February 2024 to complete the study.
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Marcos further instructed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in collaboration with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, to compile 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.