Young governors laud GMA for assurance on IRA release

A newly formed group of young governors praised President Arroyo for assuring local government units (LGUs) that she will ask Congress not to push through with a proposed measure to suspend the release of their Internal Revenue Allotments (IRAs) as part of the government’s efforts to address the ballooning fiscal deficit.

The new group is the Band of Active Governing Young Officials or BAGYO, composed of provincial chief executives who are young, energetic and armed with a vision to lift their provinces to economic prosperity through good governance.

Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers, one of the senior members of BAGYO, said it is high time for youthful leaders to inject fresh ideas in local governance to adapt to dynamic technological changes in agriculture, tourism, communications, education, environmental protection and crime prevention, in delivering basic services to their constituents.

BAGYO’s other members are Governors Mark Lapid (Pampanga), Miguel Dominguez (Sarangani), Luis Villafuerte (Camarines Sur), Adolph Edward Plaza (Agusan del Sur) and Erlpe John Amante (Agusan del Norte).

"The very important criterion of BAGYO is that our members must not be older than 40. But if a governor is young-looking, we can probably accept him," Barbers said in jest.

Barbers said BAGYO would play an active role to help Mrs. Arroyo achieve her 10-point agenda to improve the county’s economy.

In an earlier statement, the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), through Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, said the proposal of Congress to suspend the IRAs of local governments is unlawful and goes against the very intent and purpose of the Local Government Code.

The LPP added that LGUs are in the frontline of the government’s efforts to deliver basic services to the people, and this will be affected if Congress decides to suspend the release their IRAs.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado is the LPP national president, and Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, the board chairman. Barbers was elected vice president for Mindanao.