Cong. Edgar Chatto (left, standing behind the podium) is with the Edgar M. Chatto Leadership and Governance Institute team composed of Atty. Trisha Chatto (seated, left) and First Congressional District Chief of Staff Atty. Abel Damalerio (seated, right) discussing the important features of the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling. Chatto spoke during the second session of the Orientation Course for new Local Legislators-Enhancing Governance Through Effective and Responsive Legislation on June 15, 2021 at the Modala Beach Resort in barangay Danao, Panglao. The Mandanas ruling will take effect in 2022. The orientation seminar was organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government under Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales and the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines – Bohol chapter headed by its president, Tagbilaran vice mayor Jose Antonio Veloso.
Rep. Edgar Chatto discussed, in an orientation seminar organized by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) under Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales and the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP) – Bohol Chapter headed by its president, Tagbilaran vice mayor Jose Antonio Veloso, the impact of the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling on local government units (LGU), a report from the solon’s office said.
The orientation seminar drew members of the various Sanggunian including the Sangguniang Bayan/Panglungsod secretaries all over the province as the seminar ran for three days from June 14 to 16, 2021. Also in attendance during the said 3-day seminar were members of the various Liga ng nga Barangay presidents and presidents of Sangguniang Kabataan Federation in Bohol.
The ruling effectively increases the national tax allocation (NTA) of LGU starting in 2022.
The ruling provides an increase of resources giving LGUs more freedom, facility and flexibility to provide basic services for their constituents.
Chatto warned, however, that the increase in resources comes with its challenges. LGUs must be prepared to spend its NTA efficiently, in accordance with stringent procurement rules.
The veteran lawmaker highlighted the need for proper planning, budget management and implementation of programs.
“We must also ensure that throughout this whole process, we are transparent and accountable to the public,” Chatto emphasized.
Chatto formed the special team named Edgar M. Chatto Leadership and Governance Institute comprising of chief of staff Atty. Abel Damalerio and daughter Atty. Trisha Chatto to discuss the ruling’s implications to the LGUs and the national government as well as to provide a refresher on the accountability of public officers.
As the ruling is set to take effect in 2022, concerns have also been raised about the absorptive capacity of LGUs and other impacts on public services and the economy.
The DILG and VLMP said the program aims to help local officials adapt to new normal governance and legislation.
Other topics discussed in the forum included local planning, budgeting and financing, governance priorities and challenges, administrative investigation, decentralization and local legislation.
Strict implementation of basic health protocol was observed during the forum organized by batch over the course of three days, the report from Chatto’s office bares.
Chatto was invited as resource person after having been chosen from a list of local chief executives and policy experts who weighed in on the discussions regarding the Mandanas ruling in a global forum organized by the World Bank on Good Governance and Decentralization, the report adds.
He also shared his insights on how the ruling can significantly affect public financial management at a forum that was organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its Cities Development Initiative (CDI) partner cities, the report further bares.