2012 IRA of Negros Occ LGUs slashed by P940M

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The provincial government of Negros Occidental and its 31 towns and cities stand to lose a total of P940 million in their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for 2012.

Provincial Budget Officer Jose Percival Salado Jr. said recently he received confirmation from the Department of Budget and Management on the total amount that will be deducted from the respective IRA shares of LGUs in the province.

Based on the documents he furnished the media, Negros Occidental and other LGUs in the province was allotted a total IRA share of P8.974 billion for fiscal year 2011.

For 2012, however, their revised IRA share will only be P8.034 billion, or with a difference of P940.585 million.

Comparative data showed that Kabankalan City has the biggest cut (15.2 percent) of over P98.8 million, from this year's more than P650 million to only more than P551.3 million next year.

Toboso town, with over P62.6 million in IRA this year will only get a little more than P50 million next year, of more than P1.5 million drop (2.92 percent), the lowest cut among all LGUs of the province.

Bacolod City, with P711.4 million IRA this year, will have over P633.4 million next year, or a drop of close to P78 million or 10.96 percent.

Other IRA of cities for 2012 are: Bago—more than P421.93 million; Cadiz—over P464.8 million; Escalante— over P276.35 million; Himamaylan—over P356.9 million; La Carlota—over P226.52 million; Sagay—over P377.8 million; San Carlos—over P417.7 million; Silay—over P309.9 million; Sipalay—over P329.29 million; Talisay—over P283.8 million; and Victorias—over P248.78 million.

Salado said the conversion of 16 municipalities into component cities around the country has resulted in the reduction of IRA shares of cities nationwide, including those in Negros Occidental.

The low collection of the revenue collecting agencies three years ago also affected the IRA shares as allocations for 2012 have been based on the 2009 collections.

Salado, however, said the IRA shares are expected to increase again in 2013 as revenue collections also grew in 2010.