Agri chief: Implementation of devolution to further strengthen gov’t efforts for agricultural developments
MANILA
–
The agricultural developments in the country will be sustained in the coming
years as the government prepares to fully devolve its functions and services to
local government units, according to the Department of Agriculture.
In an interview
with Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday, September
24, during the Cabinet Report, Agriculture Secretary William Dar pointed out
that the impending devolution will strengthen the department's relationship
with local government officials with the aim of fully developing the
agricultural sector.
“Gusto kong idiin
na lahat ng mga sangay o unit ng kagawaran na dapat i-devolve sa local
government units po na sa ilalim ng Local Government Code of 1991 ay nagawa na
ng departamento matapos ipasa ang batas
30 years ago. [I would like to emphasize that all branches or units of
the department that should be devolved to local government units under the
Local Government Code of 1991 have already been done by the department after
the law was passed 30 years ago.],” he added.
He cited as an
example the recent battle of the country against the spread of African Swine
Fever that affected the hog industry in the country since last year. Aside from
the national government’s support, the local government has been playing a
vital role in fighting the spread of the animal disease, he added.
Sec. Dar, on the
other hand, admitted that the agriculture department is not in full capacity to
seamlessly implement the devolution of its services due to lack of funds in the
local government and insufficient training for modern technologies that can be
utilized in agricultural developments.
“Ang problemang
ito ang tinutugunan ng Mandanas Ruling sa pamamagitan ng paglalaan ng mas
malaking pondo sa local government units. [This problem is already being
addressed by the Mandanas Ruling by allocating more funds to local government
units.],” he said.
The department
also cited the establishment of the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries
Extension Systems or PAFES that keeps agricultural workers in provincial,
municipal, and community-level on track on the latest technology and good
practices in agricultural production and marketing.
The Mandanas
ruling
In June 2021,
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Executive Order No. 138 ordering "the
functions, services, and facilities which shall be fully devolved from the NG
(national government) to the LGUs (local government units) no later than the
end of FY (fiscal year) 2024.
This measure will
give local government units more funds starting 2022 under the Mandanas ruling
which was penned by the Supreme Court in 2018, mentioning that “local
governments are entitled to a share of all national taxes, not just the
national internal revenue taxes.”
The ruling has
increased the Internal Revenue Allotment or budgets of local governments by
around 50% in order to fully execute and deliver basic functions and services
to the people.
Under the said
order, the Department of the Interior and Local Government is tapped to help
improve and augment the capabilities of the local governments to deliver
services and deliverables transferred to them.
“Ang
pinakamalaking hamon ay nasa local government units ngayon, at ang Kagawaran ng
Pagsasaka ay willing na tumulong para sa transition na ito. [The biggest challenge
is with local government units today, and the Department of Agriculture is
willing to help this transition.],” Sec. Dar said.
He also
emphasized that the success of the implementation of devolution can only be
attained with the active participation of LGUs and local communities to improve
agricultural productivity and promote agricultural development in their
respective areas.
“Let me assure
you that the Department of Agriculture will fully support the devolution of
agricultural services to LGUs.” he concluded.
