Marcos may issue EO by yearend defining gov't services to be devolved to LGUs

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 19) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday that he may issue an executive order by the end of the year that will determine basic government services to be devolved to local government units (LGUs) under the Mandanas ruling.

He reiterated that the current administration had to postpone the implementation of the Mandanas ruling for a year to study thoroughly and consult with local chief executives about the services and functions that must be devolved.

“We gave ourselves until the end of this year and we will then sign another executive order putting into place and defining very clearly which of the services, which of the functions belong to the local government and which belong to the national government,” he said in a speech at the fourth general assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines in Pampanga.

Marcos noted that as the government pursues the devolution transition, local executives could expect that their respective areas would be equipped with additional budget and training.

The president said boosting them with extra funding could allow local governments to launch their own programs and projects.

“We will find a way, especially the poorer provinces, mabigyan ng breathing room para mayroon silang pondo kung may sarili silang idea, so they can act on their initiatives,” he said.

[Translation: We will find a way, especially the poorer provinces, to provide breathing room so that they have funds if they have their own ideas, so they can act on their initiatives.]

As a former governor of Ilocos Norte, the president also said he understands the need for the local and national governments to work together to achieve their goals.