Mayors push economic charter reforms

MANILA, Philippines  — The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) has issued a resolution pledging support for proposed constitutional economic reforms.

In a resolution, the 1,488-member LMP endorsed a proposal to institutionalize a Supreme Court ruling that internal revenue allotment should be sourced from taxes collected by the national government.

The mayors also voiced their support for the lifting of restrictions on foreign investment in some industries.

LMP president Mayor Luis ”Chavit” Singson of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur said these economic reforms would benefit poor provinces.

Singson presented the resolution to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año in ceremonies held this early this week.

“Their support of this agenda means they recognize it as a necessary corrective measure to achieve the President’s agenda to make our people’s lives better especially now that we need to recover from the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) on our country’s economy,” Department of the Interior and Local Government spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.

Homer Revil, chairman of CORE Movement, which is pushing for the constitutional amendments, said the support of municipal mayors would boost the campaign of the Duterte administration.