LGUs’ fiscal space enough for seniors, PWD programs in 2025

MANILA: A lawmaker on Tuesday said local government units (LGUs) would have enough fiscal space to spend on programs for the benefit of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) as they are set to receive national tax allotment (NTA) worth PHP1.034 trillion in 2025. In a statement, Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. sai LGUs could use a portion of their NTA shares for spending on senior citizens, PWD, protection of children, gender and development, prevention of human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, and disaster risk reduction and management. Citing data from the Department of Budget and Management, Villafuerte said the PHP1.03 trillion budget allocation for LGUs next year shall be divided among 83 provinces; 149 cities; 1,485 municipalities; and 41,905 barangays. Villafuerte further noted that the NTA for next year is PHP163.229 billion or 18.73 percent higher than this year's outlay of PHP871.38 billion. 'Hence, our local executives will ha ve fiscal space to spend bigger in 2025 on their development programs, as well as on PPAs (programs, projects and activities) for the benefit of our elderly, PWD, women and for the protection of our children, among others,' Villafuerte said. Twenty percent of the NTA shall go to development projects, under the respective Development Funds of LGUs, according to Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code. Meanwhile, at least 5 percent of LGU revenue from regular sources shall go to the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund of local governments based on RA 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. Source: Philippines News Agency