Department of Budget Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said the national government will help capacitate or prepare local government units (LGUs) in the process of devolution of government services until full implementation.
Devolution is the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, from the national government to LGUs.
In a recent interview, Sec. Pangandaman said the DBM, together with other concerned agencies, is formulating measures to enable LGUs to assume their devolved functions by 2027.
“Gagawa po tayo ng capacity building, training, at seminar sa ating mga LGUs para po matulungan sila— para po by that time na magkaroon po tayo ng full devolution ay kaya na po nilang tumayo sa sarili nilang mga paa,” Sec. Pangandaman said.
To recall, in 2022, the DBM submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a draft executive order to amend Executive Order 138 and extend the transfer of some national government functions to LGUs from the previous 2024 to 2027.
“Gagawa po ng programa ang DBM for procurement, proper planning, proper identification of projects, and implementation po. Ang DOF (Department of Finance), meron po silang Bureau of Local Finance, na pwede po magbigay ng guidance kung paano po nila gagamitin ‘yung pera nila... Baka po puwede ring magkaroon sila ng access sa credit or even sa international institutions."
"Ang DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), katuwang din po natin diyan, at yung Development Academy of the Philippines. So maraming grupo at department ang tutulong dito, hopefully, before 2027, we are able to capacitate them,” Sec. Pangandaman continued.
Last January, the DBM issued the National Budget Call, which defines the budget framework for drafting the 2024 budget. It calls for the incorporation of the provision of funds for capacity-building programs for LGUs.
The budget call highlights that the 2024 budget shall provide funds for agencies' regional programs which are responsive to the needs of the disadvantaged and lagging LGUs.
“Nandirito pa rin po ang DBM para magbigay sa kanila ng guidance kung anong klaseng mga proyekto ang pwede nilang sundin. Meron na tayong Philippine Development Plan, so we're hoping they will follow... para alam nila kung ano ‘yung mga strategies para umunlad ‘yung kanilang mga lugar,” Sec. Pangandaman said.
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