Arroyo announces bigger IRA to local execs
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced on Thursday an increase in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares of all the local government units of the country.
The announcement, loudly applauded by councilors attending their national conference here, however took on a political color when Arroyo told the members of the Philippine Councilors' League, towards the end of her speech, to support the TEAM Unity of the administration coalition.
She said while she was aware that many of the councilors would themselves be busy campaigning for their own electoral bids in May, she had hoped that they would still continue to support the TEAM Unity senatorial slate.
The speech during the opening ceremonies of the PCL 2007 end-term national assembly at the Cebu International Convention Center was the President's first official statement while in Cebu for two days for various events.
PCL National President Carlo Pontico Fortuna, in an interview, said they were expecting the President to ask for their support for the administration candidates.
"I am allied with the administration, so for me, I would be very happy to assure to the President of my support," Fortuna said.
President Arroyo's speech, however, mainly focused on the economic progress the country had made, which, she said, became possible because of the support of the local government officials.
She said it was the first time in the country's economic history that it had 24 quarters of uninterrupted growth.
The IRA share of the local government units would also increase because of the increase in tax collection, Arroyo said.
The President also announced that the national government had raised by an additional P15 billion the IRA of the LGUs.
She said that with an increase in IRA, LGUs would have more money to help the poorest of the poor in their area.
Arroyo specifically mentioned the payment of health premiums for the poor.
The President arrived in Cebu at noon Thursday and attended the Women's Congress held at Cebu Provincial capitol. She also paid a visit to the victims of a huge fire that hit two villages in Mandaue City on Wednesday.
On Friday, she will grace the Philippine Development Forum to be held in Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in the village of Lahug, this city. The President will depart for nearby Bohol island on Saturday.
(OPS/PIA)