City of Naga execs won't join protest vs cityhood

Sun.Star: The City of Naga, one of three towns in Cebu that became cities last year, will not be joining any protest opposing the creation of more cities. City officials around the country plan to stage a protest action today, including the wearing of black armbands and flying their flags at half-staff. Central Visayas’ mayors are scheduled to meet in Cebu City. “Dili lang mi ana (We won’t join)," said City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong. “Kami man seguro ang gi-protestahan ana (They’re probably protesting against us)." For their part, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes are not opposed to converting a municipality into a city, as long as the requirements set by the Local Government Code are met. Lapu-Lapu enjoyed a 10 percent increase in its Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) last year, from P249.035 million in 2006. In that year, the City depended on the IRA for 48 percent of what it spent on social services, personnel and other operating expenses. Earn it Cortes pointed out big cities like Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu need a bigger IRA to support their projects and priorities. “I won’t object to those that are qualified to become cities. But to those that are not, Congress should consider all the concerns, particularly the needs of existing cities. How are we expected to survive?" he told Sun.Star Cebu. At least 16 new cities were created by the last Congress, including Cebu’s Bogo, Carcar and Naga last year. Naga’s Chiong, however, pointed out it will be more difficult for towns to become cities this time around. Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu Province, first district) said new cities created under the 13th Congress were exempted from the more stringent income requirement stated under Republic Act 9009. The law, which set the income requirement from P20 million to P100 million for two straight years, was drafted by Sen. Aquilino “Nene" Pimentel Jr., principal author of the Local Government Code. 16 cities The exemption, Gullas explained, was granted to 23 towns, including Cebu’s Bogo, Carcar and Naga, which were proposed to be created as cities during the 11th Congress yet. Pimentel, he said, promised that the 23 towns were excluded in the new requirement and for Congress to just approve the amendment. But since the creation of new cities was set aside because of then president Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial, the bills were revived only during the 13 Congress. Senate President Manuel Villar, Pimentel, and then senator Alfredo Lim, Senate committee on local government chairman, agreed on the exemption, but reduced the towns to just 16. And the bills, including his own for the creation of the cities of Naga and Carcar, were re-filed and went through the usual process. Objections raised by the League of Cities of Philippines (LCP) were heard but denied by both the House and the Senate, Gullas added. The league is protesting the adjustments in their IRA shares because of the creation of the new cities. ‘Wisdom’ The LCP has asked the Supreme Court to look into the 13th Congress’ exemptions to the income requirement. But Gullas, in a press conference yesterday, cited jurisprudence in which the Supreme Court ruled that it “could not substitute (for the) wisdom of Congress." He cited the case of Beltran vs. Secretary of Health (476 SCRA 168), where the SC ruled that “this court cannot inquire into the powers of Congress to pass and legislate laws because of the separation of powers." Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo, though, said they will just wait for the SC to decide on their petition. She and other Central Visayas mayors are scheduled to meet this afternoon at Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s office to discuss further actions. Increased Also, Gullas said the creation of new cities did not diminish the IRA share of the other cities, as their IRA this year is still larger compared to that in 2007. He admitted, though, that a smaller increase was granted. “Mora ra sila’g naalkanse lang sa ginansya," the congressman said. Toledo, for example, got only a 3.34 percent increase with P279.72 million in its 2008 IRA share, compared to P270.94 million in 2007. Zambo said they were supposed to receive P307 million, or an increase of 13.66 percent. A table from the DBM that Gullas handed out to reporters showed that the new cities of Bogo, Carcar and Naga’s IRA shares rose by an average of 190 percent. 27 more? Zambo, for her part, said the LCP is asking President Arroyo to make good her promise made before the May 2007 elections to grant old cities a form of “amelioration" to cushion the blow from new cities. Zambo said the cities will continue their mass protest until such amelioration is granted, or a mechanism is devised so that other local governments will be protected from the effect of making more cities. Also, Gullas said he supports the LCP in its fight against House Bill 24 filed by Rep. Ann Hofer (Zamboanga-Sibugay) in July last year. The bill seeks to convert 27 towns into cities despite the lack of compliance with RA 9009 requirements, by having a city in each province that does have one yet. In Central Visayas, Siquijor will benefit if the bill gets approved. - Sun.Star