Res. No. 41, S. 2004-oppose IRA cutback.doc

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF OLONGAPO, HELD ON
SEPTEMBER 22, 2004, AT THE CITY HALL.

PRESENT:

Hon. Rolen C. Paulino - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer
Hon. Noel Y. Atienza- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Councilor
Hon. Cynthia G. Cajudo - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Teodoro D. del Rosario - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Bella P. Asuncion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Marey Beth D. Marzan- - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Angelina B. Andrada - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Anselmo A. Aquino - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Edwin J. Piano- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Gina G. Perez - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Robine Rose C. Buenafe - - - - - - - - - - SK Federation President

ABSENT:

Hon. Brian Patrick H. Gordon - - - - - - - - - - City Councilor
Hon. Napoleon F. Capistrano- - - - - - - - - - - President, Liga ng mga Barangay


RESOLUTION NO. 41
(Series of 2004)

A RESOLUTION STRONGLY OBJECTING THE PROPOSED REDUCTION OR CUTBACK AND ALL OTHER PREVIOUS CUTBACKS IN THE INTERNAL REVENUE ALLOTMENT SHARES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs) IN THE ENTIRE PHILIPPINES


WHEREAS, the City Government of Olongapo was perturbed by the proposal of Albay Representative Joey Salceda to suspend the release of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of local government units for 18 months for the national government’s use to fund its priority projects. The proposal details that LGUs would lend a portion of their IRA, estimated at Php20-billion, to the national government and would collect the money after 18 months with interest;

WHEREAS, the City deems that the said proposal is not only unconstitutional and unlawful, but would lead to the eventual disruption of the local government units’ capability to deliver even the basic services for their communities, which would have immediate and lasting impact in the lives of their people;

WHEREAS, the Constitution so provides that local governments shall enjoy local autonomy and shall have a just share in the national taxes which shall be released to them automatically. The local autonomy bestowed to every local government unit features that the executive department has no authority to adjust, much less reduce unilaterally the said shares;


Con’t. of Resolution No. 41 Series of 2004.

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WHEREAS, further, the said proposal is not the exact or direct cure for the ballooning budget deficit, the subject matter of the proponent’s measure, but was made merely to divert funds from LGUs to the national government. For such a move, the country is indeed in a gloomy economic picture that can be viewed globally;

WHEREAS, the challenging economic situation experienced and inherited by local government units because of previous and present crises coupled with the implementation of the said proposal will lead to the eventual standstill of various priority and immediate projects, to the detriment of the entire country;

WHEREAS, the City joins the rest of the cities and provinces in the country in expressing that such a move will not resuscitate the ailing Philippine economy;

NOW, THEREFORE, on motion of Councilor Cynthia G. Cajudo, with the unanimous accord of the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present,

RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled, to object, as it hereby objects the proposed reduction or cutback and all other previous cutbacks in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares of Local Government Units (LGUs) in the entire Philippines.

Let a copy of this Resolution be furnished the League of Cities of the Philippines for concurrence and support.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, September 22, 2004.


ROLEN C. PAULINO
City Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer


NOEL Y. ATIENZA CYNTHIA G. CAJUDO
City Councilor City Councilor


TEODORO D. DEL ROSARIO BELLA P. ASUNCION
City Councilor City Councilor


MAREY BETH D. MARZAN ANGELINA B. ANDRADA
City Councilor City Councilor


BRIAN PATRICK H. GORDON ANSELMO A. AQUINO
City Councilor City Councilor
(Absent)


EDWIN J. PIANO GINA G. PEREZ
City Councilor City Councilor


Con’t. of Resolution No. 41 Series of 2004.

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NAPOLEON F. CAPISTRANO ROBINE ROSE C. BUENAFE
President, Liga ng mga Barangay SK Federation President
(Absent)







ATTEST:



ELFLIDA S. SALMON
City Council Secretary





APPROVED BY HIS HONOR, THE CITY MAYOR ON______________________.



JAMES GORDON, JR.
City Mayor




ATTEST:


DELFIN A. JUICO, JR.
Secretary to the City Mayor