THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has noted that President Rodrigo Duterte's (PRRD's) Executive Order (EO) 138 or call for the implementation of full devolution starts 2022 alongside the Mandanas ruling is a preview of federalism that PRRD administration has vowed to carry out during his administration.
Apparently, that is already far from realization given that he only has barely a year in power. Still, nobody knows what PRRD intends to do with his promise should he or his daughter win the highest post on the land.
I agree with DILG that the full implementation of devolution will give us a preview of what PRRD has in mind when he campaigned and won on the platform of federalism. For one, the main bulk of attending to the basic needs of the people, and the institution of sustainable development will be the exclusive powers of the local government units.
These include the comprehensive development planning, creation of sources of revenues, and use and housing, financial administration and management, tourism investment and trade development, infrastructures and public utilities and services, development of economic zones, justice system, local government administration, business permits and licenses, municipal waters, indigenous people's rights and welfare, culture heritage and language development, sports development, parks and recreation.
What remains as exclusive powers of the national government include national defense and security, foreign affairs, international trade, customs and tariffs, national socio-economic planning, monetary policy and fiscal policy, competition and regulations, postal service, promotion and protection of human rights, basic education, social security benefits, science and technology, prosecution of graft and corruption cases, intellectual property rights, and elections.
This means with bigger powers and functions to local government units (LGUs), follow bigger budget share for them. According to the Local Government Code of 1991, 60 percent of the budget goes to national, and 40 percent to LGUs. But with Mandanas ruling, the LGUs get the bigger share, 50 percent to as much as 60 to 65 percent of the national budget. A 3 percent share goes to Equalization Fund, which shall bridge the gap between the rich and poor LGUs.
The only difference with PRRD federalism is that the EO 138 shall be carried out under the same political setup and under the same existing LGUs setup.
In essence, the LGUs will just be bigger and stronger in terms of functions and resources.
There is no guarantee however that the old feudal political dynasties and landed elite clans that still dominate and control most LGUs will be changed by PRRD's ruling. At the least, they will still run the LGUs like the extension of their corporate business and haciendas. The only changes would likely be in LGUs whose leadership is in the hands of the enlightened middle-class intelligentsia and progressive-patriotic leaders who are less obsessed with power accumulation, but the democratization of wealth and inclusivity of development.
With full devolution I see promising scenarios in LGUs like Iloilo City, San Jose, Kalibo province, Roxas City, Bacolod City, Himamaylan City, Don Salvador Benedicto, Cebu province, and Bohol, among others, to advance in realizing the goals of devolution.
I am hopeful that with Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia as member of the National Devolution Committee representing as President of the League of Cities of the Philippines, he can infuse better inputs to produce valuable and doable guidelines to make the full devolution process more equitable, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, and adaptive to the full goals of federalism.
Of course, DILG leadership, field officials and personnel, consultants and assisting SUCs, will be around to ensure that LGUs will be better prepared for the challenges of the effective implementation of EO 138.