The Department of Interior and Local Government recently released P416,900,000 to the Negros Occidental provincial government, its 12 cities and 19 towns, except Escalante, to reduce their expected 2012 Internal Revenue Allotment cuts by almost one half, DILG provincial head Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag said yesterday.

Last year the Department of Budget and Management announced nationwide IRA cuts this year, with the Negros Occidental provincial government, and its 13 cities and 19 towns to face a reduction of P940,585,592, saying it was due to poor tax collections during the Arroyo administration.

But President Benigno Aquino later announced that the national government had savings to reduce the P13 billion expected cut in the 2012 IRA to P6.5 billion.

Madayag said the LGUs whose IRA cuts were reduced by almost half were those that had received Seals of Good Housekeeping from the DILG.

But she said Escalante City needs to submit some paperwork to be covered by the Seal of Good Housekeeping.

The recipients in Negros Occidental of the DILG Local Government Support Fund of P416.9 million are the province of Negros Occidental – P40 million, the cities of Bacolod – P35 million, Bago – P35 million, Kabankalan – P45 million, La Carlota – P15 million, San Carlos – P35 million, Silay – P25 million, Sipalay – P30 million, Sagay – P30 million, Talisay – P20 million, Cadiz – P40 million, Himamaylan – P30 million and Victorias – P20 million.

The towns and the amounts they received are EB Magalona – P1 million, Hinigaran – P1 million, Cadoni – P700,000, Ilog – P1 million, Murcia – P1 million, Pulupandan – P600,000, San Enrique – P500,000, Valladolid – P700,000, Binalbagan – P1 million, Calatrava – P1 million, Cauayan – P1 million, Hinoba-an – P1 million, Isabela – P1 million, La Castellana – P1 million, Manapla – P1 million, Moises Padilla – P900,000, Pontevedra – P900,000, Toboso – P900,000 and Don Salvador Benedicto - P700,000.

The DILG set specific uses for the funds it released, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said.

The Negros Occidental provincial government will use its P40 million for road concreting, he said.

Silay Mayor Jose Montelibano said the IRA for towns and cities is based on national government tax collections from two years ago.

He said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has assured that the IRA shares will increase next year as government had better tax collections lately.

The P25 million returned to Silay can only be spent for specified projects by the DILG, Montelibano said.

But with an IRA cut balance of P25 million, Silay will still have to take belt- tightening measures such as cutting down on fuel and electricity use, projects, and number of casuals, he said.

“We need to be frugal, frugal, frugal,” Montelibano said.

EB Magalona Mayor David Lozada said they are glad that the IRA cut for this year has been reduced and are still hoping for further adjustments.

In the meantime they will have to implement austerity measures such as cuts in electricity use, travel and job order workers, he added.

Meanwhile, Marañon said he expects Commission on Audit commissioners to rule on the provincial government contract for the sale and lease of its property to Ayala Land at its meeting today.*CPG

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