LPP G.A RESOLUTION NO. 2018-015
ADOPTING THE CONSOLIDATED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LEAGUE OF PROVINCES OF THE PHILIPPINES ON FEDERALISM
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WHEREAS, the League reiterates its support behind the President’s proposed shift from a unitary to a federal form of Government through charter change;
WHEREAS, this is the ultimate realization of local autonomy where powers and resources are within the administrative control of Regional and local governments to more quickly and efficiently address development needs of communities. A hybrid Federal form of Government will ensure the best possible change for the country to bring about a more vibrant economic development through a genuine local, fiscal and administrative autonomy of local government units that will also address the peace and order problem in Muslim Mindanao; and
WHEREAS, while federalism is an ideal goal, transition towards federalism must be carefully set up to consider diversity of social, economic, cultural, and political dimensions. It should bring about a more direct empowerment of the LGUs and not the regional states since the LGUs are directly accountable to the people, and empowerment means giving more resources directly to the LGUs. The shift to a hybrid federal government should not create an additional layer of government as this will only lead to more politicking. The desired goals can be effectively realized with less complicated processes and with the least disruption of governmental operations and structures.
NOW, THEREFORE, considering the pronouncements of President Duterte and the League’s recent deliberations with members of the Constitutional Commission, the League, during a special meeting called for this purpose, held on April 23, 2018 at Century Park Sheraton, Manila, has agreed to update and consolidate the following recommendations on Federalism, to wit:
Maintain the Presidential system of government;
Status Quo on the Legislative and Judiciary branches;
The League supports the immediate passage of the BBL;
Adopt a Hybrid or Asymmetric Federal government structure (Table 1) with Special Autonomous Regions in ARMM and CAR;
Table 1:
The League supports the creation of the 17 Regional States with juridical entity anchored on the following Principles:
I. GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND BUREAUCRACY
1. No need for an additional layer of bureaucracy to be created due to already existing Regional structures composed of its constituent political subdivisions: i.e. Provinces, Cities, Municipalities, and Barangays (Provide options for the eventual aggrupation or amalgamation of LGUs);
2. Empower the existing Regions into Regional States during the transition, for purposes of administrative and fiscal decentralization to strengthen the autonomy of the units therein and to accelerate their economic and social growth and development, with an option for local government units (LGUs) to redraw, redefine or reconstitute their Regional States based on the following parameters:
Contiguous via land or connected by body of waters;
Economic, social, cultural and political viability;
unanimous agreement of its component LGUs; and
Adoption of an organic law to be approved and ratified by the people in a plebiscite.
3. Respect the present provisions in the Constitution for the creation of Autonomous Regions in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Cordilleras (CAR), while other LGUs may subsequently opt to unanimously agree to federate themselves into Autonomous Regional States, to be approved and ratified by the people in a plebiscite;
II. COMPOSITION
4. The Regional States shall be composed of a Council of Provincial Governors and Highly Urbanized City Mayors of its constituent units, to be presided over by a Chairperson elected amongst themselves who shall serve on an annual rotation basis among its component LGUs and not elected by the people within the region.
5. The Regional Parliament, as the uni-cameral body, shall be composed of the members of the Sangguniaang Panlalawigan and Panlungsod for highly urbanized cities. The Regional Chairperson shall preside over the Regional Parliament.
6. The executive and legislative officials of the Autonomous Regional States only in ARMM and CAR will be elected by the people within its Region.
III. POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
7. The National Government shall devolve clearly-delineated powers, functions, responsibilities and resources to the Regional States and Autonomous Regional States as well as to the Provinces, Cities, Municipalities and barangays.
8. Regional States shall exercise all functions and powers not otherwise reserved to the Federal Government. The latter will exercise over-all general supervision over the Regions and LGUs. In line with the Constitutional principle of subsidiarity, the Regional States with respect to Provinces and HUCs; Provinces with respect to component cities and municipalities; and the cities and municipalities with respect to its component barangays, to ensure that the acts of their component units are within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions.
IV. ON FUNDS AND REVENUE SHARING
9. The funds and resources intended for national government agencies (NGAs) to be devolved must be transferred to the Regional States and to its constituent local government units net of its automatic appropriations for interest and principal payments for debt service and its other international obligations.
10. No reduction of taxing and administrative powers and functions of Provinces and its LGUs to ensure that there will be no decrease in its locally-generated revenues, but rather ensure an increased capacity by also amending the situs of tax to level the playing field so as to remove the undue advantage presently enjoyed by a few Metro Manila Cities where the main headquarters of businesses and financial institutions are located;
11. The existing funds currently being received by the Provinces and its component LGUs from the National Government, including funds managed and implemented by NGAs for Provinces and LGUs, will not decrease even with the creation of Regional States, and should have a guaranteed increase in revenue share under the proposed new Federal Constitution.
(Please see Annex A for the LPP Recommendation on LGUs’ Share from National Revenues, which is hereby made an integral part of this Addendum)
Adopted this 23rd day of April, 2018 during the LPP Special General Assembly meeting held at the Century Park Sheraton, City of Manila.
| CERTIFIED TRUE AND CORRECT: | |
| (Sgd) GOV. IMEE R. MARCOS Deputy Secretary-General for Luzon |
(Sgd) GOV. EDGARDO M. CHATTO Secretary-General |
| (Sgd) GOV. JUNIE E. CUA Vice-President for Luzon Co-Chair, LPP Committee on Federalism |
(Sgd) GOV. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO Executive Vice President |
| ATTESTED BY: | |
| (Sgd) GOV. AL FRANCIS C. BICHARA National Chairman |
(Sgd) GOV. RYAN LUIS V. SINGSON National President |
Click Here to read Full Text & Annex A: Enclosed as stated.
“Recommendations on LGUs’ Share from National Revenues”