Local governments should have a bigger share of national funds, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Wednesday, promising he will push for passage of the bill that will give LGUs more money.
“Just as the family is the basic unit of society, the local government, starting with the barangay, is the basic political unit of the Philippine government and territory. The autonomy and development of local governments is a basic test of democracy without which regional and national development will suffer,” he said.
He said increased funding will boost the capabilities of city and town governments to provide vital social services.
Pimentel filed a bill in the 15th Congress that proposed giving LGUs a share of Customs duties, LTO revenues, and wharfage dues. LGUs only get allotments from the internal revenue collected by the national government.
The proposal also gives LGUs a 50-50 split of revenues instead of the current 60-40 in favor of the national government.
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Photo: Koko Pimentel’s Facebook page
