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Town mayors fear lesser IRA after census
By: KIT BAGAIPO
Dis-enfranchisement
of smaller towns, this is what Maribojoc mayor Leoncio Evasco
feared as a result of the recent 2007 census of population
conducted by the National Statistics Office nationwide.
Mayor
Evasco, who used to administer the country's biggest city
told mayors gathered during the regular League of Municipalities
of the Philippines (LMP) Meeting at the Jjs Seafoods Wednesday
that small local government units could be at the losing end
of the line if census enumerators adhere to the survey guidelines.
The
recent survey guidelines allegedly ask the enumerators to
list only the people who have
established daily residence in the place, Evasco shared.
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While
I told my enumerators in a meeting not to cheat, I also
asked them to be liberal in their interpretation of
the survey guidelines, Evasco said.
By
this, a barangay resident who studies or works in cities
and major centers while staying there most of the time
could be listed as city resident, and his barangay could
lose him, Evasco explained.
The
LMP in general share the same apprehension.
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Just
as Mayor Evasco wants the organization to cope up with a position
paper on this, LMP President and Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren
says the LMP could formally request the NSO to liberally interpret
the guidelines in favor of the smaller local government units.
The
fear is rooted primarily on the relative effect of population
in the determination of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA),
Dimiao Mayor Sylvia Adame confirmed during the plenary of
the regular LMP meeting.
IRA
is the annual share local government units get from the proceeds
of the national internal revenues generated from taxes, a
share that is determined by the number of people the local
government is supposed to serve and the land area it is to
maintain.
"The
result actually is more IRA for the cities who have more,
while smaller local government units could end up with less
IRA shares, the former Davao City administrator hinted.
With
the possible decrease in population in smaller LGUS due to
strict adherence to the census guidelines, smaller units may
be lost, he added.
Bohol
Governor Erico Aumentado said when LGUs are so dependent on
the IRA, the National Statistics and Coordination Board should
also look at the issues raised here.
With
the issue, the governor, who is leaving for Manila volunteered
to hand-carry the LMP resolution to the proper authorities.
(rachiu/PIA)
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