Angara seeks to empower LGUs to fight criminality, illegal drug

Senator Sonny Angara said that local government units (LGUs) should have enough power and funds to combat crimes and illegal drugs in order to ensure public safety and order.

President Rodrigo Duterte has recently ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to make an audit of the performance of LGUs in fighting criminality and illegal drugs.

"Habang isinasagawa ang pag-o-audit, kami naman sa Senado ay nagtatrabaho para siguruhing may sapat na otonomiya, kapangyarihan at pondo ang mga lokal na pamahalaan upang labanan ang paglaganap ng kriminalidad at iligal na droga," said Angara, chairman of the Senate local government committee.

Angara's committee has been conducting public consultations in reviewing the Local Government Code (LGC) under Republic Act 7160, which remained unchanged since its enactment in 1991.

As a result of the consultations, Angara has filed 11 bills that seek to reform the LGC.

One of his proposed measures is Senate Bill 1788 that will increase the source of funds given to LGUs by including in the computation of internal revenue allotment (IRA) the VAT paid on imported goods collected by the Bureau of Customs.

Aside from increasing the source of funds, Senator Koko Pimentel and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto have also filed bills that will increase the IRA of LGUs from the current 40% to 50% share.

"These measures will enable our LGUs to effectively perform their duties as frontliners to their constituents. Lumalabas kasi sa aming mga konsultasyon, mayroong mga pamahalaang lokal na napakaliit lang ng pondo na hindi sapat para maipatupad ang kanilang mga programa para sa kapakanan ng kanilang mga nasasakupan," Angara said.

The senator cited data from the Liga ng mga Barangay which showed 40% of 41,902 barangays receive an IRA of P1 million or less.

Angara has also filed SB 1770 that seeks to enhance public financial management in LGUs by requiring them to post in their websites the summary of all revenues, collection, and disbursement of LGU funds to improve transparency and good governance.

"LGUs serve as the first line of defense against drug menace. Sila ang nakakaalam kung mayroong pusher na umiikot sa kanilang lokalidad. Sila rin ang nakakaalam kung may mga adik na hindi nabibigyan ng kaukulang pagkalinga at rehabilitasyon.

"People's funds should flow back to their local governments so that more can be channeled into projects and services that serve their benefit and uplift their welfare," Angara said.