League of Cities won't give up fight vs 'unqualified' towns

Manila, Philippines - The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) is seeking the impeachment of justices of the Supreme Court (SC) who voted to uphold the conversion into cities of 16 municipalities despite their failure to meet the requirements under the Local Government Code.

San Fernando, Pampanga Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, LCP president, said they will exhaust “all legal remedies” available, including filing impeachment complaints against the justices.

“We are disappointed and frustrated that the Supreme Court skipped the chance to correct the judicial error of recognizing unqualified municipalities as cities,” he said.

“We have given the Supreme Court the opportunity to correct itself and declare once and for all that the creation of cities and other geopolitical units must conform to the provisions of the Local Government Code.”

Speaking at a news forum in Quezon City, Rodriguez said under the Constitution, “No province, city, municipality, or barangay may be created, divided, merged, abolished, or its boundary substantially altered, except in accordance with the criteria established in the Local Government Code.”

“Not only is the P100-million income required, a municipality must also meet the other requirement to become a city: 100 square-kilometer area or 150,000 population,” he said.

Rodriguez said under the Local Government Code, a municipality may be converted into a component city only if it meets two of three requirements: locally generated average annual income of P100 million for the last two consecutive years and contiguous territory of at least 100 square kilometers or a population of not less than 150,000 inhabitants.

All the 16 new cities failed to meet the P100-million income requirement, he added.

El Salvador in Misamis Oriental failed to meet all the requirements set by the Local Government Code on cityhood, Rodriguez said.

The SC decided to leak the ruling to the media instead of announcing it in a press conference as had previously been done by spokesman Midas Marquez, according to Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza, LCP secretary-general.

Calapan, Oriental Mindoro Mayor Paulino Salvador Leachon, LCP executive vice president, said the SC’s latest decision would leave the city mayors with no choice but to seriously consider filing impeachment complaints against the justices who violated the Constitution and betrayed public trust.

“Definitely, we will file another motion for reconsideration before the Court without prejudice to the filing of impeachment complaints against erring justices,” he said.

“We recognize the role of the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of law. But what if it is wrong? Where do we turn to?”

Robredo: IRA to decrease

In Bacolod City, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of cities will decrease after the SC affirmed the conversion of 16 municipalities into cities.

“It’s disadvantageous for the existing cities because their IRA will decrease,” he said.

“It’s a simple analysis, it’s like having the same pie, before only 120 cities divide it, now it’s 136.”

Gov. Alfredo Marañon said the 13 cities in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, would stand to lose P700 million in IRA.

However, Robredo said he does not think the 16 new cities will receive the IRA this year.

“Probably, two things: one is, there should be an entry of judgment first,” he said.

“I really doubt if that can be implemented this year.”

The 16 new cities are Baybay in Leyte, Bogo in Cebu, Catbalogan in Samar, Tandag in Surigao del Sur, Lamitan in Basilan, Borongan in Samar, Tayabas in Quezon province, Tabuk in Kalinga, Bayugan in Agusan del Sur, Batac in Ilocos Norte, Mati in Davao Oriental, Guihulngan in Negros Oriental, Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte, El Salvador in Misamis Oriental, Carcar in Cebu, and Naga in Cebu. – With Danny Dangcalan, Ding Cervantes