SC directs Palace to explain IRA in 2012 budget

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday ordered the executive department to answer a petition questioning the allocation of some P60.75 billion in the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of the 2012 national budget to national projects.

In a two-page resolution, the SC directed the Office of the Executive Secretary, Office of the National Treasurer, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the departments of Finance and Budget and Management to submit comments within 10 days to the petition of Batangas second district Rep. Hermilando Mandanas seeking to stop the release of the IRA funds.

In his petition filed last Jan. 10, Mandanas argued that the fund should include the revenue of the Bureau of Customs and instead be allocated to local government units (LGUs).

Mandanas said this amount “is equivalent to the IRA for the LGUs in accordance with law that has been misappropriated by the National Government in the 2012 General Appropriations Act.”

“If the unconstitutional release of the P60.75 billion is not restrained by the Supreme Court, then again the misuse of local funds for national projects will go unabated,” he said.

He said LGUs have been failing to perform their duties and responsibilities mandated by law, including the delivery of basic services and projects in housing, livelihood, health and education, because of the wrongful allocation of IRA funds.

Citing Section 6, Article 10 of the Constitution, Mandanas said the IRA funds should be automatically released to LGUs.