Capitol allots half of IRA to aid LGUs

CEBU, Philippines —  Half of the Cebu province's Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) will go into aid for its component cities and municipalities amid the continued implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). This was confirmed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during a press conference on the ECQ situation in the province last Saturday, April 18.

There, she said that about P159 million from the provincial government’s coffers will serve to augment relief operations being conducted by local government units.

As of now, it is still undecided whether funds will be directly downloaded to LGUs or will be used to purchase goods to be distributed.

"Akong tanawon whether I shall download the funds. We’ll see unsa’y pinakadali," the governor said.

Garcia said that in case that the province decides to download funds, the distribution to LGUs will be "based on needs."

"Per capita, unya ang kadtong medyo mas naglisod nga LGUs, ang mas lower income class, mas dako-dako ang atong igahin," she said

Late March this year, the province had allocated P376 million in public funds under the Assistance for Local Government Units fund as aid to LGUs.

Local government units were stratified based on population, class ranking and income determine priority towns for local government units.

LGUs with lower ranking were given more aid as compared to higher class cities.

The Capitol provided guidelines on what basic goods to be procure with the financial aid. A price cap was also set on these goods so as to require LGUs to procure at the lowest possible cost so as to maximize the funds.

"For example, kung mo download ta this much, mao ra sad ni pwede mapalit nila sa bugas, ang kaning uban nga mga basic nga commodities. And also, naa tay price cap nga dili pwede mopalit ug bugas nga labihang mahala. Because ang ato niining purpose nga ma-maximize gyud nato ang funds labi na ron kay this is a time of emergency," Garcia said.

Local government units will also have to provide a liquidation of their procurement for the provincial government to see if they have abided by the set price ceilings.

Garcia updated that LGUs have until April 30 to use the first batch of aid released last month.

"By the way katong first trench nga gi download, they have until April 30 to spend it. Kadtong mga LGUs nga wala magasto ang pondo, wa tingali kailanga so di lang nato punan," she said.  JMD (FREEMAN)