APLA Presents a Comprehensive Vision For Developing The Local Governance Sector and Strengthening Decentralization
As part of its commitment to support and strengthen the capacities of LGUs, APLA compiled a comprehensive proposal, including detailed demands and recommendations to develop and drive towards greater decentralization in the local government sector. These proposals aim at increasing LGU profile and character, address financial, regulatory and legal challenges to LGUs, and ensure continuity in the provision of the services both efficiently and equitably.
Finance: Solutions to financial challenges
- Transferring Accumulated Financial Dues: Immediate and regular transfer of overdue financial dues to LGUs, alongside the development of a transparent system for financial transfers.
- Promote financial resources: Allocate a portion of the public budget and local taxes, such as fuel tax and telecommunications company fees, to LGUs and provide additional resources to support village councils.
- Reform municipal tax management: Transfer building and land tax and professional licence fees collection powers to LGUs, and create an electronic system for managing the flow of financial information.
- Net Lending and Reconciliation: Includes establishing mechanisms for accounting and reconciling all dues and debts, as well as unifying data.
Regulatory and legislative frameworks: Upgrade laws and regulations
- Upgrade the Local Government Unit Election No. 1 of 1997 to enhance LGU mandate and realistic classifications, and to address emerging issues, such as investment, heritage, and sustainable development.
- Upgrade and issuing new regulations, including on buildings, zoning, billboards, and wholesale markets, and pass legislation to promote LGU roles in service provision.
- Strengthen partnership with the private sector by creating an enabling legislative environment and incentivising LGUs to adopt joint projects.
Strengthening the Relationship Between LGUs and Line Ministries
- Ensure LGU rights: In the context of law- and policy-making, coordination will be in place with line ministries to ensure that LGU mandate is not overstepped.
- Integrate with relevant ministries: Regulations will be amended to ensure integrated functions with ministries, such as the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA) and Ministry of Interior (MoI). In addition to improving law enforcement, encroachments will be addressed.
- Create mechanism of joint action: Joint organizing committees will be established to devise joint sustainable solutions for emergency crises.
This effort reflects APLA’s commitment to promote local government on grounds of transparency, efficiency and partnership. These proposals fulfil LGUs’ actual needs and ensure sustainable development.