The national government has issued an Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Executive Order No. 138 issued by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in connection with the devolution of national government functions to the Local Government Units (LGUs) starting 2022.
The IRR on “Full Devolution of certain functions of the Executive Branch to Local Governments, creation of a Committee on Devolution, and for other purposes” was issued recently by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Executive Secretary of the President, as well as the respective presidents of the leagues provinces, cities, municipalities and Liga ng mga Barangay.
The IRR will facilitate the implementation of the Supreme Court (SC) Ruling on Mandanas case, as all local government units (LGUs) in the country are expected to absorb national government programs starting 2022 and expanded their share in Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA).
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 17 of the Local Government Code of 1991 also known as the Republic Act 7160 and other existing laws, subsequently devolved functions of the national agencies to the LGUs, shall be fully devolved them not later than the end of 2024.
The DBM has earlier announced that with the implementation of the SC ruling on Mandanas case, “the LGUs, must prepare themselves to effectively assume new responsibilities and prepare for the seamless transfer of devolved functions, services, and facilities,”.
The IRR states that all LGUs shall prepare their DTPs in close coordination with the NGAs concerned, especially on devolved functions and services critical to them, to guide them towards the full assumption of the devolved functions and services, as well as serve as a guide on the monitoring and performance assessment of the LGUs by the NGAs concerned. The Sanggunian shall review and approve the LGU DTP through a Sanggunian Resolution.
To ensure the smooth implementation of EO No. 138 and its IRR, the City Government of Puerto Princesa already conducted several workshops and meetings in the preparation of the implementation of Mandanas ruling.
In his Memorandum Order No. 200, City Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron has directed all departments and offices of the City Government to designate their respective Devolution Assessment Team to ensure that the provisions of the EO No. 138 are properly implemented in their respective departments and offices.
The LGUs also shall come up with its Capacity Development Agenda which shall be guided by, among others, the strategy to enable the LGUs to absorb, manage, and sustain the responsibilities under a fully devolved set-up.
The DILG through the Local Government Academy shall oversee the provision of capacity development interventions for LGUs, and shall develop the appropriate mechanisms to ensure the efficient utilization of government resources of this effort.
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