The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) urges President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to suspend Executive Order No. 138, which decrees the full devolution of certain executive branch functions to local government units.
LMP Secretary-General and Barcelona, Sorsogon Mayor Cynthia Falcotelo-Fortes stressed on Wednesday, April 5, that the fourth, fifth, and sixth-class municipalities would have difficulties shouldering most of the tasks of national government agencies due to limited resources.
"Magiging challenge talaga kung ibubuhos na lahat ng trabaho o karamihan, the bulk of the work of the national government," Falcotelo-Fortes told DZRH.
While LGUs wait for the decision of President Marcos, Falcotelo-Fortes assured that they continue to comply with EO 138 and prepare their devolution transition plans.
"Compliant ang lahat ng LGUs, 99 percent of LGUs ay sumunod doon sa mag-prepare kami ng devolution transition plans," the local chief executive said.
"Matuloy man ay ready naman kami with plans," she added.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Usec. Margarita Gutierrez, meanwhile, assured that the national government would assist LGUs in the process of full devolution.
"Iyon naman talaga ang function ng DILG. Hopefully ma-resolve natin iyan," Gutierrez said.
"Lagi kaming may constant dialogues with the LMP, with the other leagues. Pati rin kami internally sa DILG, patuloy namin pinag-uusapan ito, kung paano namin maalalayan yung mga LGU," the DILG official added.
Falcotelo-Fortes welcomed the assurance provided by Gutierrez.
