Bigger tax share for LGUs pushed

Leyte representative Martin Romualdez ARIES JOSEPH HEGINA/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Senatorial candidate Martin Romualdez wants governors and mayors to get a bigger share of tax revenues to boost their development budgets.

In a statement, Romualdez said that more than any budget gimmicks, the best way to ensure that local government units (LGUS) have enough funds to improve their provinces, cities and towns was to increase their share of the national tax pie.

Congress is pushing to increase the LGUs’ share of the Internal Revenue Allotment from 40 percent to 50 percent every year.

Romualdez said this would comply with the constitutional mandates of local autonomy, decentralization, devolution of agencies of government and equitable share in the national resources.

In a speech at the 21st founding anniversary of the province of Kalinga yesterday, Romualdez said LGUs needed additional funds for more efficient delivery of basic services such as creating jobs and livelihood, and providing education and healthcare that their organic income cannot sustain alone.

“We all know that we can do more. We can do better. We can vastly improve the quality of services and the quality of life of our constituents,” he said.

Romualdez lauded the progress made by the Kalinga province in socio-economic development despite “the national government’s lack of malasakit (concern) in the delivery of basic services.”

The three-term representative said that if elected to the Senate, his legislative agenda would focus on livelihood, education and health. “More jobs, more scholarships in private educational institutions, more accessible healthcare by providing health clinics in all barangays, and a more expanded coverage of the CCT (conditional cash transfer).”

The lawmaker said the next administration should spread progress outside Manila and “capitalize on our greatest asset: our excellent and quality workforce, especially in healthcare and information technology.”

The government, he said, should create more jobs that pay a living wage and in so doing, improve the quality of life of all Filipinos.

Romualdez said he would be the voice of the common people in the Senate if given the mandate by the electorate in the May elections.