Senate urged to pass LGU tax bill

A CONGRESSMAN on Monday urged the Senate to pass a bill that will raise the share of local governments in national taxes to boost their autonomy.

In a statement, Camariñes Sur Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte, Jr. said local government autonomy is the most important aspect of regional and national development.

He added that the approval of the measure would free local governments from the “clutches of Imperial Manila” in providing essential government services.

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill 10296, which will increase the share of local governments in national taxes to 50% from 40% by amending the Local Government Code of 1991.

Two counterpart Senate bills are pending at the committee level.

Mr. Villafuerte said passing the bill would “empower and challenge local government units (LGU) to use the additional allocation in providing better services.” — Russell Louis C. Ku