Intergovernment RelationsNational Executive Board
The ULAP National Executive Board (NEB), inducted by no less than His Excellency
President Joseph Ejercito Estrada last October 10, 1998, is composed of the President and
Secretary-General of the member Leagues and Federations. As the implementing unit of ULAP,
the NEB met eight times during its first year of operation. As a result, ULAP has already
discussed and agreed on several national policy issues and position papers advancing the
tenets of genuine local autonomy for the local government units.
The NEB has also approved the inclusion of three associate
members. All applications for new memberships for other local government leagues and
federations which are subnational or regional in character and associations of local
appointive officials.
National Government Relations
An excellent working relationship has been established by ULAP with the National
Government, particularly those Agencies with devolved functions. ULAP is now duly
represented in the Oversight Committee on Devolution (OCD), the National Anti-Poverty
Commissin (NAPC), and other National Government Councils, Committees, Forums and Technical
Working Groups (TWGs). Key priority issues resolved for the benefit of LGUs include:
1. Release of the 5% IRA withheld in CY 1999 amounting to P
4.0 Billion;
2. Guidelines on the P 5.0 Billion Local Government Service
Equalization Fund (LGSEF);
3. Guidelines on the P 2.5 Billion Lingap Para sa Mahihirap
Fund;
4. Policy for the Computation of the Land Area as one of
the indicators in determining the LGUs' IRA share;
5. Creation of a Devolution Adjustment Equalization Fund
(DAEF) by virtue of E.O. 48 aimed to augment the IRA share of LGUs and adoption of
favorable schemes for the Local Government Service Equalization Fund (LGSEF).
Mechanisms of Partnerships were entered into by ULAP with
the following National Government Agencies (NGAs):
1. Office of the President (OP) for the approval and
release of P 5.0 Million grant to League of Provinces and ULAP for the purchase of its own
Office space to serve as its permanent National Headquarters.
2. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
on the Policy Framework for Local Autonomy; creation of an ULAP-DILG Policy-Review
Committee; recall of some controversial DILG Memorandum Circulars affecting LGUs'
autonomy; and a P 1.0 Million Grant for ULAP's Advocacy Program on Devolution;
3. Department of Agriculture (DA) for the food security
program and the Creation of a National Council on Food Security (NCFS);
4. Department of Health (DOH) for the Inter-LGU cooperation
on health services and facilities and the creation of Inter-Local Health Zones (ILHZ) and
of the National Health Planning Committee (NHPC);
5. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for
the devolved social welfare programs and services;
6. Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the
increase of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of LGUs for CY 2000, i.e.
No-Deductions policy prior to the application of the 40% IRA share, increasing LGUs' IRA
share from P 96 B in1999 to P 121 Billion on CY 2000; and ULAP representation in DBM's
Budget Dialogue Group (BDG) forums for the GAA;
7. Department of Finance (DOF) for the recall of the BLGF
Circular exempting NAPOCOR from the payment of local franchise taxes to concerned LGUs;
8. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the
Community-based Physical Fitness and Sports Development Program for LGUs; and
ULAP is likewise continuously pursuing the following issues
with the concerned national government agencies:
1. Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the
release of the remaining 5% IRA withheld amounting to P 4.0 Billion; release of the LGSEF
and the Lingap para sa Mahihirap Funds intended for LGUs;
2. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
for the Review and amendment of the following Memo Circulars:
- Intelligence Fund of LGUs
- 20% Development Fund of LGUs
- Travels of Local Government Officials
- Loans and Credits
- PAGCOR Operations at LGUs
- Seminars and Trainings
- And others
3. Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) for
the devolution of national funds for school buildings directly to LGUs with capabilities;
4. Department of Agriculture (DA) for the devolution of
national funds for farm-to-market roads directly to LGUs with capabilities;
5. Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the devolution
of training on Technology and Research Programs for Quality Non-Formal Education, in
partnership with TESDA;
6. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
for the creation of a Land Administration and Management Program-Inter-Agency Coordinating
Committee (LAMP-ICC) with the Leagues as members;
7. Civil Service Commission (CSC) on the LGUs' exemption
from or non-application of the Salary Standardization rates for NGAs at the local level;
8. Y2K Commission for technical assistance on info
dissemination and training for Y2K preparedness and local contingency plans of LGUs;
9. And still with several other government agencies.
Congressional Liaison
Last December 1998, ULAP successfully lobbied with the Bi-Cameral Conference Committee
on the GAA averting the proposed P 3.0 Billion cut from the LGUs' IRA share in the 1999
GAA.
On Oct. 10, 1998, ULAP adopted six (6) priority Legislative
measures amending the 1991 Local Government Code (R.A. 7160). President Estrada committed
to certification these measures as urgent while Congressman Romeo Candazo and Senator
Aquilino Pimentel, as Chair of the House and Senate Committees on Local Government,
respectively, have committed their sponsorship of the said measures. These proposals are
already incorporated in their proposed omnibus bill amending the 1991 Local Government
Code. ULAP, in partnership with several Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), is presently
actively participating in the drafting this omnibus bill and in the consultation forums
with concerned NGAs.
Now, ULAP is actively participating in the on-going
deliberations of both Houses of Congress on proposed legislations affecting the Leagues
and Local Government Units.
Position papers on the following issues have been drafted
for discussion:
- Amendments to the 1991 LGCode;
- Amusement Tax proposed reduction (Local Sanggunians are
instead being enjoined by ULAP to reduce the tax to benefit the local movie industry);
- Special Education Fund (SEF);
- Moratorium on the creation of new Cities and Provinces;
- Increase in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of
LGUs;
- Share of LGUs in national taxes and in national wealth;
- And still many others.
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