Metro Manila local government units are now set to prepare their plans for full devolution following an online interfacing with government agency members of the Regional Committee on Devolution (ComDev) last September 2.
The meeting with the local Devolution Transition Committees of the 16 cities and lone municipality of NCR provided a platform for local administrators, planning and development coordinators, budget officers, and Liga ng mga Barangay presidents to raise their concerns regarding the transition to full devolution set to begin in 2022.
Questions raised to the Regional ComDev focused on the specific functions, services, and facilities that will be devolved by the national government to the LGUs, the basis of the computation of the national tax allotment (NTA) for each LGU, as well as the process in filling out the forms for the devolution transition plans (DTPs).
Department of Budget and Management-NCR Regional Director and Chair of the NCR ComDev Ruby Muro explained that while the DTPs of national government agencies (NGAs) are still undergoing review by the DBM, LGUs are encouraged to use the initial guidelines contained in the Annex C of the DBM-DILG Joint Memorandum Circular 2021-01, which provides for the Matrix of Devolved Basic Services and Facilities based on the Local Government Code of 1991, in expanding or narrowing down their existing functions and services. They are also encouraged to coordinate with the NGAs directly so that they will be able to formulate their own DTPs within the prescribed timeframe.
DBM-NCR also clarified that the NTA adjustment for 2022 of each LGUs was based on the 2020 Census of Population from the Philippine Statistics Authority and land area based on the data from the Land Management Bureau. The total adjusted NTA shares of LGUs in NCR for 2022 would amount to Php 57.919 Billion.
Meanwhile, DILG-NCR field officers who were capacitated last August 17 on the operational guidelines for the preparation of LGU DTPs will provide technical assistance to the LGUs in conducting necessary activities in preparing DTPs, including discussions on the relevance of annexes per section to be accomplished.
Regional Director Maria Lourdes Agustin, in her message, emphasized the vision of the NCR ComDev for a smooth and harmonized process for a fruitful leap towards full devolution. She expressed confidence that although there will be great challenges ahead, the region can look forward to a success as the preparatory efforts have been adequate thus far.
âWe are all excited and inspired to work hand-in-hand with you in the various technical preparations and DTP-related activities that we will be conducting towards stronger, more responsive local public service delivery,â she said.
The NCR ComDev vows to continue supporting LGUs to zero in on the finer details of DTP preparation and CapDev agenda formulation, the financial considerations involved as prescribed in the pertinent Local Budget Memoranda, and the consequent formulation of communication plans.
This commitment was underscored during the first meeting of the committee last August 19, which ensured the alignment of efforts and cooperation among the regional member agencies in NCR. #