Batangas – The provincial governor of Batangas has called on legislators to allocate a more equitable portion of tax revenues to local government units (LGUs) during upcoming budget negotiations in light of their increasing fiscal demands.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a Monday interview, LGUs require an equitable share of tax revenues to enhance the delivery of public services. He emphasized that the Supreme Court's 2018 Mandanas-Garcia Ruling has bolstered financial decentralization by ensuring that LGUs receive a rightful portion of the taxes collected by national government agencies (NGAs).
Referencing Article 10, Section 6 of the Philippine Constitution, Mandanas underscored that it mandates LGUs to receive an automatic and just share of national taxes. He added, "The importance of the SC ruling is to obey the law. This is the beginning of the real development of our people."
Mandanas also noted that the increase in LGU funding following the Supreme Court's ruling has already had a positive impact in Batangas. He cited the procurement of multi-purpose rescue vehicles for all barangays, which proved crucial during the recent Taal volcano activity, where significant sulfur dioxide emissions caused widespread volcanic smog.
With the improved funding, the governor expressed confidence that the quality of services in healthcare, education, livelihood programs, and disaster response in Batangas will see significant enhancement.