Philippine cities continue protest, seek moratorium from Congress
By: Benedict Nisperos and Jaime Paulo Mora

Philippine cities continue to rev up their information drive for their constituents on the perceived long term effects if the undue creation of unqualified cities continues.

Localized banners and streamers were posted in conspicuous areas in the city proper showing their indignation. Both local and national media gave full coverage of the issue. City officials and employees wore black arm bands during their Monday flag raising ceremonies. Other cities decided to express their protest every week and vowed to continue until this issue is resolved.

Since January 28, 2008, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) has been protesting the undue creation of cities by the Congress particularly the 16 towns that were converted into cities in 2007 without meeting the income requirement under the Local Government Code (LGC) as amended in Republic 9009.

According to LGC, amended by RA 9009, in order to be converted into a city, a municipality should have a minimum locally generated income of P100M and 150,000 population, and/or 100 sq. km. land area.

Several cities from all over the country reported their protest actions. This includes Alaminos, Balanga, Batangas, Calapan, Candon, Caloocan, Cauayan, Iriga, Gapan, Ligao, Lucena, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Fernando (La Union), San Carlos (Pangasinan), San Juan, San Jose Del Monte, Santiago, Sta. Rosa, Tarlac, Santiago, Science City of Munoz, Sorsogon, Tagaytay, Tanauan, Urdaneta, Vigan, and Valenzuela in Luzon;

Bago, Bacolod, Bais, Bayawan, Calbayog, Cadiz, Cebu, Escalante, Himamaylan, Iloilo, La Carlota, Lapu Lapu, Kabankalan, Maasin, Ormoc, Roxas, Sagay, San Carlos (Negros), Sagay, Silay, Sipalay, Tacloban, Toledo, Passi, and Victorias, in the Visayas; and Bislig, Butuan, Cotabato, Davao, Dapitan, Dagupan, Digos, Dipolog, General Santos, Iligan, Kidapawan, Malaybalay, Oroquieta, Pagadian, Panabo, the Island Garden City of Samal, Surigao, Tangub, and Zamboanga in Mindanao.

Constituents to internalize the issue

City mayors believe that support from their constituents is equally important in carrying out its to the Congress since the undue creation of new cities will ultimately affect them.

Mayor Edward Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa City said that all the city’s barangay captains have already expressed their full support. The city is the hardest hit due to their Internal Revnue Allotment (IRA)’s minimal increase this year. The city will only get a Php 1.7 million or roughly just 0.18% instead of Php 144 million.

Batangas City Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha, in a letter to LCP, said the city has used local media in informing his constituents on the issue. “I requested the publication of LCP protest in the local newspapers in our city to inform our constituents of the negative effect of the undue creation of unqualified cities,” he said.

In Sorsogon City, which merged with a nearby town, Bacon, just to comply with the cityhood requirements in 1992, city officials launched their “Ibalik ang IRA” campaign signifying strong support to the LCP.

Receiving only Php P69.5 million instead of the expected IRA increase of Php 263.6 million, Davao City, also one of the hardest hit cities in terms of amount of increase, joined the other cities as it planned massive information campaign and weeklong media briefings to explain the appalling effects of the reduced IRA increase to the city.

Asia’s Latin City, Zamboanga, reported that the city council had passed a resolution expressing support to the LCP. “We have utilized radio, television, and print media to articulate our opposition like the consistent issuance of press releases, paid advertisements, and guestings in local television program,” city mayor Celso Lobregat reported.

Proactively seeking solutions

On January 22, 2008, city mayors met with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Malacanang to express their sentiment on the issue. According to Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin Abalos, the LCP President who led the 90-city mayors delegation, the Chief Executive would certify as urgent a bill on Congress that seeks a moratorium on cityhood creation once it passes the Committee level..

The President would also look for funds that would cushion the effect of the decreasing IRA share among cities, Mayor Abalos added.

Meanwhile, the League is meeting with other sectors as well to come up with long-term solutions.

The LCP, in its official statement, is calling on the League of Municipalities, League of Provinces, and the Congress to join LCP in reviewing the IRA provision of the LGC and to make it more responsive to the ever increasing roles of the local government units.

”We are not against the creation of new cities as long as they meet the requirements of law. We also fully support efforts to spread development but this should not be done at the expense of existing cities,” the LCP maintained.

"The IRA issue is not just our issue. It is the issue of the people. Every citizen, rich or poor, young and old, should be involved. We should take a stand and fight for our right," said Mayor Abalos.