Bam Aquino’s re-election bid gets boost from governors
By Hannah Torregoza
Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV’s reelection bid got a boost after the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) thanked him for working on the restoration of the P2.358 billion in Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for local government units (LGUs) in the 2019 national budget.
Sen. Bam Aquino (RIO DELUVIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The LPP said the provincial governors found a dependable ally in Aquino when it came to the welfare of local government units (LGUs) and their constituents.
In its GA Resolution No. 2019-01 dated February 27, 2019, LPP acknowledged Aquino’s role in restoring the budget that was scrapped after the issuance of Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) Local Budget Memorandum 77-B that significantly decreased the IRA of 70 provinces.
“Sen. Bam Aquino fully supported the LGUs’ appeal to restore the P2.358-billion IRA decrease and sponsored the proposed amendment of the LPP in the general provision on the IRA,” the resolution said.
LPP secretary general Edgar Chatto, national chairman Al Francis Bichara and national president Ryan Luis Singson signed the resolution.
The LPP had earlier requested Aquino, as vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, to help restore at least P1.475- billion to cover the IRA decrease due to DBM’S memorandum.
However, in his speech during the LPP’s general assembly, Aquino said he requested finance committee chair Sen. Loren Legarda to include the entire amount of P2.358- billion.
“Lahat kami sa Senado ay handang tumulong para matiyak na matutugunan ng local government units (LGUs) ang mga isyu at problemang hinaharap ng pamilyang Pilipino sa inyong mga lalawigan at probinsiya, (All of us in the Senate are ready to help to make sure that LGUs can respond to the issues and problems facing Filipino families in your respective provinces),” said Aquino, who is running under the “Otso Diretso” opposition coalition.
Aquino also said that the IRA for 2019 has been raised to P575.5-billion, significantly higher than last year’s IRA of P522.7-billion.
“Dahil sa mas mataas na IRA, mas masisiguro na tuluy-tuloy ang takbo ng mga serbisyo ng lokal na pamahalaan, tulad ng mga ospital at health centers, social welfare, agri and environmental services sa inyong mga lugar, (With a higher IRA, we can make sure that public services rendered by the LGUs would be continuous, like the hospitals, and health centers, social welfare, agriculture and environmental services in your vicinity), ” the senator said.
Also, with a higher IRA, the lawmaker said the amount that can be allocated to development projects and disaster reduction and management would also increase.
Aside from this, he said LGUs can earmark more funds for the establishment of Special Drug Education Centers, that he believes is a more effective solution in addressing the drug menace in the country.
Meanwhile, Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon likewise boosted Aquino’s reelection bid when he endorsed him in Iloilo city, his home province.
Drilon said Aquino is “one of the brightest senators he has worked within the Senate” and thus, worthy of being reelected in the upcoming May 2019 elections. #MatalinongBoto2019