Large functions of the programs of the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) will be devolved to Local Government Units (LGU) by year 2022, among which are the sustainable livelihood program and feeding program. This was announced by OIC Regional Director Leo Quintilla of the Cordillera Administrative Region during a teleconference last February 18 with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as part of the Department’s ‘commitment to transparency and create participation in the budget process.’
Apart from social welfare and livelihood functions, others that will be devolved to LGUs are local infrastructure, agriculture and healthcare. Meanwhile, the social pension program will be transferred to the National Commission of Senior Citizens which is not part of the devolution rule.
The devolution is part of the operationalization of the Mandanas ruling of the Supreme Court. The ruling pertains to the increase in the base figure in determining the percentage of the share of LGUs from the national taxes or internal revenue allotment (IRA) that will result in an estimated increase of 20%-27% in LGUs’ share. To mitigate the fiscal impact of the Supreme Court ruling, the budget will be restructured, with numerous functions of national agencies to be devolved to LGUs. A draft Executive Order detailing the implementation of the Mandanas rule has reportedly been prepared by the Budget Department for President Duterte to consider.
On the question of how the additional IRA will be shared among the LGUs, Director Quintilla explained that the allocation will be consistent with the regulations set under the internal revenue allotment. For its part, the DSWD will formulate the policies and standards that will guide the delivery of social welfare services for both the national agencies and the LGUs.
On eventual retrenchment, as echoed by an employee, that will result from the ruling’s implementation, Director Quintilla acknowledged that the work force of national agencies will be reduced with the reduction of services but will probably increase that of the LGUs. The Director also indicated a possible problem of LGUs’ capacity to absorb the numerous functions that will be devolved to them.
Notwithstanding the devolution of some functions, Director Quintilla emphasized and encouraged the continuing relevance of CSOs engagement in their role in monitoring corrupt practices, engaging in feedback mechanisms and partnership in implementation of social and welfare services.
Raising the emerging issue of red-tagging which impacts the delivery of services by CSOs, a CSO representative asked if DSWD can provide certification for CSOs so that they can implement their services freely without any harassment. The DSWD said that the registration, license and accreditation granted to CSOs will serve as official document for them in carrying out their services. But in the experience of CDPC (Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera), registration, license and accreditation from DSWD does not guarantee approval by LGUs of services by CSOs. Although CDPC was granted registration, license and accreditation by DSWD to implement social work and development programs, a number of its projects and services were turned down by LGUs for various reasons.
Given the impending restructuring of social welfare services, CDPC enjoins CSOs to be more vigilant in monitoring whether the delivery of services devolved to LGUs will improve in effectiveness and efficiency. Whether the services and programs will remain under a national agency or be devolved to local government units, CSOs remain relevant in their role as watchdog on corrupt practices and in monitoring that government programs and services are genuinely serving anti-poverty and development objectives devoid of political and military objectives. It becomes even more compelling for CSOs to assert their involvement in the management and policy making related to government social and development services especially in light of recent developments that saw a number of CSOs tagged as ‘reds” and arbitrarily declared by LGUs as ‘persona non grata.’
report by rhoda dalang
19February2021