Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday sought bipartisan support for his proposed measure that would give local government units (LGUs) “expanded and bigger” shares from national taxes.
Known as the “Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice” bill, Pimentel said the measure seeks to change the limited internal revenue allocations (IRAs) of LGUs into “expanded and bigger shares” from national taxes.
The change, he said, would give LGUs a larger share of 50 percent from the current 40 percent of the total tax collections that would include both revenues collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.
“The new formula means more available funds for more benefits and better services made available to more people, and envisioned to result in more positive quality of life changes in the lives of more Filipinos,” the senator said in a statement.
“Hating kapatid,” said Pimentel of the proposed 50-50 formula between the national government and LGUs in keeping with the constitutional mandate to give the latter an equitable share from the national wealth.
On April 14 to 16, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), which has 1,490 members, will hold its 2015 General Assembly at the Manila Hotel to press Congress, among others, to prioritize the proposed measure.
Pimentel said the municipal mayors are expected to make an appeal to President Benigno Aquino III, who has been invited as guest of honor and speaker, to make the bill an urgent and certified measure of Congress.
If passed into law, he said the bill would contribute greatly in the empowerment of LGUs “because the added funds would translate to LGUs’ ability to provide more services and offer more opportunities to their constituents.”
“All these substantial increases in funding are meant to benefit the LGUs and their constituencies,” said the senator, adding that it would mean more schools, better health care, more sustainable livelihood projects and more jobs.
Pimentel said the bill was envisioned to practically double the annual automatic allocations of LGUs, namely the barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces, from the general appropriations act. CB