TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN – Intensifying public awareness on the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling in the region, DILG R2 together with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) appeared as guests and talked about the Mandanas-Garcia ruling and Executive Order 138 to media partners during the Tipon-Tipan sa PIA on July 12, 2022.

Appearing in behalf DILG Director Leusen, OIC-Division Chief, Elsbeth T. Maralli, discussed to the media present as well as to the general public, via social media live stream viewing, the status of compliance of Local Government Units (LGUs) with regard to the preparation of their respective DTPs. She further delved on the LGU-DTP Analytics that will serve as guidance for the national government to support the LGUs’ transition to fully assume the devolved functions.

OIC-Chief Maralli explains the keynotes on the LGU-DTPs and the necessaryData Analytics that it will have to undergo

Meanwhile, DBM OIC-Director, Francis Bautista discussed the Growth Equity Fund (GEF), that will be allocated to financially strapped LGUs to deliver the devolved services and facilities. He further added that the GEF can be utilized for Capacity Development initiatives of LGUs to equip their personnel with the proper technical now-how to properly implement the devolved services.

Dir. Bautista answers a question from the media regarding the GEF and NTA of LGUs

Both Director Bautista and Division Chief Maralli also answered queries from the media, particularly on the issue of safeguarding the National Tax Allocations of LGUs from corruption. Both opined that the oversight functions of concerned agencies will come into play in ensuring that public funds will be properly utilized and it will also be subject to the same auditing and accounting rules as prescribed by the Commission on Audit (COA).

The Tipon-Tipan sa PIA is an initial activity that aims to let the general public through all media know more about the Mandanas-Garcia ruling and EO 138. More information, education and communications are lined to be launched as the PIA together with the DILG, DBM and other partner agencies are already underway in finalizing its communication plan to disseminate information relative to the implementation of the ruling and said executive order in the Cagayan Valley region.

(SOURCE: LGOO III MEYNARD ABRAM M. VENTURA)