BOAC, Marinduque — Department heads of the provincial government of Marinduque headed by Governor Presbitero Velasco, Jr. convened on Wednesday to discuss plans regarding devolution transition as mandated by Executive Order No. 138.
According to EO 138 or the ‘Full Devolution of Certain Functions of the Executive Branch to Local Governments, Creation of Committee on Devolution, and for Other Purposes’, projects and programs of the National Government Agencies will have a full devolution of functions starting January of 2022 and National Government Agencies (NGA) are directed to draft a transition plan on how the functions will descent to local government units (LGU).
Gov. Velasco made sure that they are keeping keen eye on every agency’s devolution plan to ensure seamless transition come next year.
“As part of preparation on the upcoming implementation of the mandate, we are carefully examining all details on the Devolution Transition Plans being prepared by each agency,” he said.
Velasco also apprises the significance of the devolution as it will increase the National Tax Allotment for Marinduque to about 30 percent in the coming years. Hence, there will be more funds for the continuing development of the province.
“This is really important and thus we are encouraging the municipal governments to also prepare and come up with a local transition plan,” he said.
The devolution is a result of the Supreme Court’s decision over the Mandanas & Garcia vs. Ochoa Ruling in which Governor Velasco himself wrote the concurring opinion, during the time he was still serving as the Associate Justice for the SC. (JDMO/RAMJR/PIA Mimaropa)