Mayors’ league slams proposal to cut IRA

Mayors have taken offense at the proposal of Albay Rep. Joey Salceda to cut the internal revenue allotments (IRA) of local government units to address the budget deficit.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, who is also the president of the Metro Manila Mayors League, said the more effective way to address the budget deficit is to scrap the congressional pork barrel allocation. He said the pork barrel aggravates the budget deficit.

Salceda proposed to cut the IRA of local government units as part of the effort to address the budget deficit. The IRA is the share of local government units in the national taxes collected in their respective jurisdictions.

Atienza noted the IRA is very important in the development program of every local government unit.

"Many of these pork barrel projects such as waiting sheds and basketball courts do not even contribute to local government. There is no benchmark being followed in the identification of pork barrel projects, except the personal or political preferences of members of Congress and it is also prone to abuse because of lack of accountability," Atienza said.

The mayor also branded as "self-serving" the proposal, which is also contrary to the constitutional provision mandating the promotion of genuine local autonomy.

"It would be better if funds amounting to billions of pork barrel every year were used to fund local government projects," he added.

He warned that reducing the IRA would hamper the daily operations of LGUs.

Atienza called on President Arroyo to ignore the call.

"President Arroyo should not heed this proposal because she is on the right track, being the only President to successfully cause the automatic and full release of the internal revenue allotments of LGUs," he said.