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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL. xo___-1648

Introduced By: REPRESENTATIVE SALVIO B. FORTUNO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

Many experts in local governments had pinned their hopes in the passage of Republic Act
No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. They believed that the issues
and concems prevalent before its passage will be cured by this landmark legislation, In fact, this
law was considered as the linchpin of the administration of President Corazon C. Aquino as it
explicitly devolves tremendous powers and responsibilities to local government units in
pursuance with the decentralization policy enshrined in the Constitution.

However, almost two decades after its passage, many local goverment units have been
persistently clamoring for the reversion of the devolved functions and responsibilities,
specifically health services, to the national government. It is very apparent that the shares of local
governments in the Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA) have not been sufficient in most cases to
finance devolved responsibilities, particularly those local government units, which belong to
lower income classifications. The root cause therefore of the grievance is money and there must
bea legal way to find a source

The Local Government Code of 1991 provides local government units with a share in the
national internal revenue taxes, which, under the Republic Act No. 8424 otherwise known as the
Tax Reform Act of 1997, include income tax, estate and donor’s tax, Value-added tax, other
percentage taxes, excise taxes, documentary taxes and such other taxes as are or hereafter maybe
imposed and collected by the Bureau of Intemal Revenue. The provision of the Tax Reform Act
notwithstanding, the Value-added taxes being collected by the Bureau of Customs have not been
included in the computation of the IRA. This effectively deprived the local government units of
its just share in national internal revenue taxes amounting to billions of pesos.

This bill therefore seeks to include the Value Added Tax (VAT) being collected by the
Bureau of Customs in the computation of the IRA share.

The approval of this bill will certainly help local govemmments in pursuing vital programs
and projects, for which reasons, the approval of this bill is eamestly sought.

REP. SX¥ZVIO B. FORTUNO
Fifth Djétrict, Camarines Sur


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

nouse itt No._ 1648

Introduced By: REPRESENTATIVE SALVIO B. FORTUNO.

AN ACT
TO INCLUDE THE VALUE-ADDED TAX BEING COLLECTED BY THE
BUREAU OF CUSTOMS LN THE COMPUTATION OF THE SHARE OF LOCAL.
GOVERNMENT UNITS IN THE NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE TAXES
PURSUANT TO THE FORMULA ENHRINED UNDER SECTION 285 OF
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7160 AS AMENDED OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives
of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The Value-Added Tax (VAT) being collected by the Bureau of
Customs for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) shall be included in the computation
of national internal revenue taxes pursuant to the formula enshrined under Section 285 of

Republic Act No. 7160 as amended otherwise known as the Local Government Code of
1991

SEC. 2. The Department of Finance (DOF), in coordination with the Department
of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG) and the leagues of local government units shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in any
newspaper of general circulation

Approved,