LGUs’ tax share also ‘pork’

MANILA, Philippines - Provinces, cities, towns and barangays throughout the country will receive a total of P342 billion this year in internal revenue allotment (IRA), which some congressmen described as the pork barrel of local officials.

The money represents the share of local government units (LGUs) from national taxes.

Aside from the IRA, LGUs have internally generated income from permit fees and other local impositions.

According to Local Budget Memorandum 67-A issued by Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, of the P342-billion IRA, P80 billion will accrue to provinces, P78.1 billion to cities, P116.5 billion to towns, and P67 billion to barangays.

These are the adjusted figures based on the
conversion of San Pedro town in Laguna into a city and the transfer of Barangay San Isidro from the town of Bangui to the town of Dumalneg, both in Ilocos Norte.

Abad’s memorandum was addressed to all governors, mayors, barangay chairmen, treasurers, local finance committees, and provincial board and city and municipal council members.

Among the country’s 16 regions, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) will receive the biggest IRA share of P37.7 billion.

Central Luzon (Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac) will get the second biggest share of P32.5 billion, followed by Western Visayas (Iloilo, Guimaras, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Negros Occidental) and Central Mindanao (Cotabato provinces, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur), which are allotted P27.8 billion and P24.9 billion, respectively.

Central Visayas (Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor) will receive P24.2 billion, while Metro Manila will get P21.5 billion.

The other regions and their IRA allocations are Cordillera (Abra, Kalinga, Benguet, Ifugao, Apayao, Mt. Province), P10.6 billion; Northern Luzon (Ilocos Sur, Ilocor Norte, Pangasinan, La Union), P4.2 billion; Cagayan Valley (Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Batanes), P2.9 billion; Mimaropa (Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), P14.9 billion; Bicol (Sorsogon, Camarines provinces, Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate), P21.3 billion; Eastern Visayas (Samar and Leyte provinces, Biliran), P21.3 billion; Zamboanga Peninsula (Zamboanga provinces, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi), P20.3 billion; Northern Mindanao (Misamis provinces, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte), P18.4 billion; Davao region (Davao provinces, Compostela Valley), P16.3 billion; and Caraga (Agusan and Surigao provinces), P13.5 billion.

In Metro Manila, the biggest IRA recipient will be Quezon City with P3.2 billion, followed by Manila and Caloocan with P1.9 billion and P1.7 billion, respectively.

Makati will receive P769.2 million, while Taguig will get P840.2 million. The two cities are fighting over Bonifacio Global City.