Marcos tasks DILG to list basic services, functions of LGUs for devolution plans

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to come up with a list of the basic functions and services of the local government units based on the devolution transition plans.

According to the Presidential Communications Office on Monday, Marcos also ordered national government agencies to conduct an analysis on the operationalization of the full devolution initiative and come up with the list of functions that should be devolved to LGUs. 

In a meeting held at the Malacañang last week, Marcos stressed the need to define and determine the priority core functions and services that should be devolved to the LGUs.

The President said the funding and schedule of implementation of the functions and services shall be determined after coming with the definition and after determining the functions and services of the LGUs.

“Should the LGUs lack the funds to implement the functions and services, the national government should have a program to assist them,” the minutes of the meeting held on December 21 indicated.

He also tasked the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to conduct a sensitivity analysis on what the government can gain from its investments, which include the functions and services to be performed by the LGUs.

The NEDA is tasked to recommend ways to better implement a phased-in devolution, including its timeline based on LGU capacity. Marcos ordered the NEDA to complete the study and submit it to the Office of the President by the end of February 2024.

Marcos gave the DILG until January 2024 to present to him the list or a month earlier than the analysis report of the NEDA.

The President has since emphasized the need to identify the functions that solely belong to the local government units.

Marcos said he wants additional funding for LGUs, especially those that are highly dependent on internal revenue allotment. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News