The Manila Hotel, City of Manila
February 22, 2023
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured local chief executives of his Administration’s continued support to their priority programs and economic development in order to ensure that decisions are made by people closer to the ground as the national government tackles the issues of devolution contained in Executive Order (EO) No. 138.
“Ang nangyari dito is nagkaroon tayo ng Executive Order, ‘yung EO 138 that defines the different functions of government and local government. Dahil ang nasa likod niyan ay ang sinasabi lalaki ang pondo ng municipal government, ng provincial government, ng city government dahil nga nabago ‘yung interpretasyon doon sa sharing,” the President remarked during his speech at The Manila Hotel.
EO No. 138 was issued to support the efficient implementation of the Supreme Court Ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia case and strengthen the autonomy and empowerment of local government units (LGUs). It directs the full devolution of certain functions of the Executive Branch to the LGUs.
The Chief Executive said that the national government would allot this year to study EO No. 138 “very seriously” in order to rectify the issue on budget allocation that is sourced from collections made by the national government offices.
“The growth of our economy, the transformation of our economy will always start from the ground level. And if we do not give our local leaders the opportunity to show what it is that they feel are most important, pinakamahalagang proyekto, pinakamagandang iba’t-ibang gagawin, mga initiative, programa,” he said.
Addressing the LMP Executive Committee and its National Directorates, President Marcos Jr. expressed his willingness to welcome opinions and suggestions from the Municipal Mayors that will be crucial to local development.
“Asahan ninyo na dito sa Administrasyong ito ay nakabukas lahat ng aking pandinig upang marinig kung ano ang pangangailangan ng ating mga local officials and kung ano man ang magagawa upang solusyonan ang mga problema na hinaharap ninyo,” he stated.
“You are the experts about your municipality. You are the most aware of the problems that you have, and you are also the most aware of the possible solutions. Kaya’t napakahalaga na kami dito national government ay nakikinig sa inyo,” President Marcos Jr. added.
The LMP is created by Section 496 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. It is mandated to “organize for the primary purpose of ventilating, articulating and crystallizing issues affecting municipal government administration, and securing, through proper and legal means, solutions thereto.”
* * *