THE PALACE on Tuesday defended the national government’s plan to continue subsidizing the development projects of villages that have cleared their territories of Maoist rebels, despite the start of implementation of a court ruling that increased the share of local governments from national taxes.  

The Barangay Development Program of the government’s anti-communist task force is still needed for municipalities that don’t have enough funds for development projects even if they will get a higher internal revenue allotment (IRA) next year, Palace Spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing.  

“The reality is we still have 5th and 6th class municipalities that will continue to have minimal funds despite a higher IRA,” he said in Filipino, noting that underdeveloped areas serve as breeding grounds for communist rebels.  

The Supreme Court ruling named after Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas clarified that the share from the IRA of local governments does not exclude other national taxes.  

The World Bank in June said the IRA are programmed to increase by 55% in the 2022 budget.  

Under the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for next year, the anti-communist task force will get P28.1 billion, higher than the P19 billion it received this year, of which P16.5 billion has been allotted for the barangay development program.  

Institute for Leadership, Empowerment, and Democracy (I-Lead) Executive Director Zy-za Nadine Suzara earlier questioned the government’s decision to allocate more funds for the task force “despite serious capacity problems among LGUs (local government units).”  

The task force may face a budget cut after lawmakers raised concerns that allocations for counter-insurgency programs could be used for electioneering, she told BusinessWorld. 

Mr. Roque denied that the anti-communist body’s funds were prone to abuse. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

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