Kibungan, Benguet is the first municipality in the Cordillera to complete its devolution transition plan (DTP).
Mayor Cesar Molitas said the plan was finished within the timeline set by the Department of Budget and Management and Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“The commitment and teamwork of everyone resulted in the completion of the devolution transition plan of Kibungan,” Molitas said.
He said the completion of the DTP was also made possible with the support of DILG Benguet and the Office of the Governor through its online training and seminars on devolution.
The DILG-Cordillera earlier recognized the municipality as the first town to submit its transition plan in the DTP DILG repository.
Executive Order 138, s. 2021 and its implementing rules and regulations states the DTP is the main tool of LGUs to carry out the transition to full devolution covering 2022 to 2024 with the implementation of the Garcia-Mandanas Supreme Court ruling this year.
On June 10, 2019, the SC has affirmed with finality its Mandanas-Garcia ruling on the just share of LGUs on national tax allotment (NTA).
Molitas said the NTA, formerly called internal revenue allotment, of Kibungan has gone up to P167,423,750 for 2022 compared to its 2021 NTA of P114,299,206.02.
He said the municipality is more focused on the enhancement of agricultural support services that include distribution of planting materials, operation of distribution systems of farm produce, and improvement of buying stations.
Kibungan will also provide for the improvement of irrigation systems and farm-to-market roads.
Another major transition would be on the LGU’s health services with 16 human resources to be devolved including the employment of nine nurses and six midwives in 2024.
He said there would be an approximately P15 million budget for health care facilities and services in 2023 as a result of the devolution.
With an increased NTA shares, the LGUs are expected to be responsible for the funding and delivery of services that were devolved to them under the Local Government Code (LGC) and other subsequent laws.
Among the functions assigned to LGUs under the LGC are agriculture programs, local infrastructure, environmental services, revenue mobilization, health services, maintenance of peace and order, employment facilitation, transportation, tourism, and housing. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 27, 2024
