It's hard to think that disadvantaged people are being taken for a ride by scrupulous politicians, well actually it's not hard, it's really happening and what can we do about it I ask?
If it's not your money you give it to the rightful owner and make no excuses and no more "BUT" and "IFS" ... it's better you give or you break the law! (or so I say).
I am having a headache trying to find the tail in all the paper trail I've seen and read so far, in trying to figure out what is this fund called IRA and what is it for. Well, for one it's not the Irish Revolutionary Army nor the American's Individual Retirement Allowance but the Philippines Internal Revenue Allotment.
Internal Revenue - means it's from the people's taxes collected by the BIR
Allotment - means the amount of money allocated for a particular person
So to be clear ... IRA is the piece of the pie from the national budget allocated for the people of the Philippines AND to be more specific 1% of the that IRA is allocated for the people with disabilities nationwide.
Reading through all the documents, I am slowly understanding a little bit of the local politics -- it's complexities and the number one talent of politicians -- LIP SERVICE. During campaign you hear all the great plans until they are elected it remains to be plan ... you cannot see evidence of where this spoonful of pie went to if it indeed leave their coffers ... "so, where are the evidence of true service?"
My take on what's happening ...
The distribution of IRA -- for the LGU meaning the province, the municipalities, the city and the barangay are given their own shares of IRA which are intended to ensure the units social development.
The use of the IRA -- is supposed to be from bottoms-up, in NGO speak the GRASS ROOT Level who design what they want to do supported by their LGU. If that kind of practice is done a lot could be accomplished even at the smallest barangay unit because it target the needs of the people according to them ideally of course but I ask again "where are the evidence of what has been accomplished so far?"
By virtue of Department of Budget and Department of Interior and Local Government Joint Circular 2011-1, it gives guidance to the LGU - from the Governor to the Baranggay Captain on how to use the 20% Annual Internal Revenue Allotment better known as IRA - it is a block grant, an all purpose general allotment to which LGU's are entitled no condition or requirements is attached for it release. Hmmmm... the last bits of the sentence very interesting but I'll talk about that in the future.
Who makes the decision -- this is where it becomes sticky ... yes, like gum to your shoes or paste to your paper. The IRA once allocated cannot be taken back by either the executive or the legislative because it's already decreed in the constitution since 1932 and strengthened in 1989 giving LGU officials - the governors, mayors and captains discretion on how to spend their IRA.
This discretionary power leaves a stale taste in my mouth ... given them power to decide on how to spend their IRA gives even the barangay captain power over the people that really need the funds and in this case the people with disability ... they can say one thing and do another that easy! Plus the fact that city halls are painted in RED TAPE and the wheels of bureaucracy is ever so slow to get past the requisition for the taste of the pie.
Further in my reading what I understand so far that ...
-- IRA allocation vary per region - province - municipality - baranggay and the classification from City to 5th class municipality.
-- Each level have their own share of the IRA that they can use at their discretion and autonomy - no department can tell them how to use their IRA according to the law
-- IRA can be used for the following:
But there's also a special law providing Senior Citizens and PWD one percent (1%) EACH to be used according to their needs based on the Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens and RA 7277 Magna Carta for People with Disability.
In the joint circular from DBM and DSWD (2003-1) the said amount can be used for:
Because all my reference are online, these information are no secret to the local government employees to not know how much is the share of the pie is for PWD and what is it for. Unfortunately, ignorance of the ordinance cannot be covered by loud voice and intimidation of withholding funds from PWD.
Knowing all that again I ask "where's the proof that the IRA worked for the people?"
I give you an example of what i've seen so far ... an unverified information (meaning tsismis!) came too me ... one barangay will buy a vehicle for the PWD regardless of the group of PWD submitting to them a project plan -- if there is truth to this unverified information then this is a violation and a complete disrespect of the people and disregard of their needs ... what is the vehicle for? who will use it? who will allocate funds to keep it operating - maintenance, fuels etc.? who? who? who?
Is this an exercise of their discretion on the use of the funds that came from our taxes in the first place? Well I need to investigate more and see what's out there for the PWD. But if you want to read more on my sources check out my files below and be informed.
What do you think? Just asking ... Magandang San Pedro Po!
If it's not your money you give it to the rightful owner and make no excuses and no more "BUT" and "IFS" ... it's better you give or you break the law! (or so I say).
I am having a headache trying to find the tail in all the paper trail I've seen and read so far, in trying to figure out what is this fund called IRA and what is it for. Well, for one it's not the Irish Revolutionary Army nor the American's Individual Retirement Allowance but the Philippines Internal Revenue Allotment.
Internal Revenue - means it's from the people's taxes collected by the BIR
Allotment - means the amount of money allocated for a particular person
So to be clear ... IRA is the piece of the pie from the national budget allocated for the people of the Philippines AND to be more specific 1% of the that IRA is allocated for the people with disabilities nationwide.
Reading through all the documents, I am slowly understanding a little bit of the local politics -- it's complexities and the number one talent of politicians -- LIP SERVICE. During campaign you hear all the great plans until they are elected it remains to be plan ... you cannot see evidence of where this spoonful of pie went to if it indeed leave their coffers ... "so, where are the evidence of true service?"
My take on what's happening ...
The distribution of IRA -- for the LGU meaning the province, the municipalities, the city and the barangay are given their own shares of IRA which are intended to ensure the units social development.
The use of the IRA -- is supposed to be from bottoms-up, in NGO speak the GRASS ROOT Level who design what they want to do supported by their LGU. If that kind of practice is done a lot could be accomplished even at the smallest barangay unit because it target the needs of the people according to them ideally of course but I ask again "where are the evidence of what has been accomplished so far?"
By virtue of Department of Budget and Department of Interior and Local Government Joint Circular 2011-1, it gives guidance to the LGU - from the Governor to the Baranggay Captain on how to use the 20% Annual Internal Revenue Allotment better known as IRA - it is a block grant, an all purpose general allotment to which LGU's are entitled no condition or requirements is attached for it release. Hmmmm... the last bits of the sentence very interesting but I'll talk about that in the future.
Who makes the decision -- this is where it becomes sticky ... yes, like gum to your shoes or paste to your paper. The IRA once allocated cannot be taken back by either the executive or the legislative because it's already decreed in the constitution since 1932 and strengthened in 1989 giving LGU officials - the governors, mayors and captains discretion on how to spend their IRA.
This discretionary power leaves a stale taste in my mouth ... given them power to decide on how to spend their IRA gives even the barangay captain power over the people that really need the funds and in this case the people with disability ... they can say one thing and do another that easy! Plus the fact that city halls are painted in RED TAPE and the wheels of bureaucracy is ever so slow to get past the requisition for the taste of the pie.
Further in my reading what I understand so far that ...
-- IRA allocation vary per region - province - municipality - baranggay and the classification from City to 5th class municipality.
-- Each level have their own share of the IRA that they can use at their discretion and autonomy - no department can tell them how to use their IRA according to the law
-- IRA can be used for the following:
- Social Development
- Economic Development and
- Environment Management
But there's also a special law providing Senior Citizens and PWD one percent (1%) EACH to be used according to their needs based on the Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens and RA 7277 Magna Carta for People with Disability.
In the joint circular from DBM and DSWD (2003-1) the said amount can be used for:
- Advocacy / IEC
- HRD and Capacity Building
- Provision of Employment Opportunities
- Protection and Safety Programs
- Group home / Foster home for the neglected, abandoned and detached SC and PWD
- Policy development / Legislation
- Research
- Other needs according to their mandate (can include client focused and organization focused programs)
Because all my reference are online, these information are no secret to the local government employees to not know how much is the share of the pie is for PWD and what is it for. Unfortunately, ignorance of the ordinance cannot be covered by loud voice and intimidation of withholding funds from PWD.
Knowing all that again I ask "where's the proof that the IRA worked for the people?"
I give you an example of what i've seen so far ... an unverified information (meaning tsismis!) came too me ... one barangay will buy a vehicle for the PWD regardless of the group of PWD submitting to them a project plan -- if there is truth to this unverified information then this is a violation and a complete disrespect of the people and disregard of their needs ... what is the vehicle for? who will use it? who will allocate funds to keep it operating - maintenance, fuels etc.? who? who? who?
Is this an exercise of their discretion on the use of the funds that came from our taxes in the first place? Well I need to investigate more and see what's out there for the PWD. But if you want to read more on my sources check out my files below and be informed.
What do you think? Just asking ... Magandang San Pedro Po!
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dbm-dswd_jc_2003-01_onepercentpwdandsc.pdf |