FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES. )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

Introduced by Rep. Aurelio “Dong” D. Gonzales, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The bill seeks to exempt the Municipality of Bacolor, Pampanga from Section 285
of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, which states that the
internal revenue allotment of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities and Barangays shall be
allocated based on certain conditions, one of which is that their share shall be
determined based on the following formula: (a) Population ~ 50%; (b) Land Area ~
25%; (c) Equal sharing ~ 25%,

This is very important for Bacolor which was the hardest hit among all the towns
of Pampanga by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and the subsequent lahar flows. The
‘onslaught forced the residents to flee the town and seek shelter in resettlement areas in
Bulaon in the City of San Fernando; Madapdap in Mabalacat, Pampanga; Sta. Lucia in
Magalang, Pampanga; and Pandacaqui in Mexico, Pampanga where they are now
relocated. The transfer has depopulated Bacolor and as a result, its Internal Revenue
Allotment share suffered a very steep decline.

Considering that the resettled residents still exercise their right of suffrage in
their respective barangays, they continue to seek basic services and assistance through
their elected officials, not in their host towns but in the Municipality of Bacolor. The
Local Government Unit of Bacolor is therefore having difficulties providing the needed
social services given the fact that their decreased IRA is not sufficient to address their
constituents’ concerns.

‘The bill proposes that instead of the population, Bacolor should be allowed to
use the number of registered voters as a basis for computing its IRA.

While this representation has made efforts to rehabilitate the town, foremost of
which is the passage of RA 9506, the Bacolor Rehabilitation Council Act, it is important
that until such time that Bacolor is repopulated, it should be given special consideration
and be exempted from the population formula for IRA allocation found in Section 285 of
the Local Government Code.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is hereby
requested.

REP. ING” D. GONZALES, JR.

trict, Pampanga


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES, )

FIRST REGULAR SESSION )
HOUSE
3711
no, 3744

Introduced by Rep. Aurelio “Dong” D. Gonzales, Jr.

AN ACT
EXEMPTING BACOLOR, PAMPANGA FROM THE POPULATION FORMULA
USED IN DETERMINING THE INTERNAL REVENUE ALLOTMENT (IRA)
SHARE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, AS PROVIDED FOR IN SEC. 285
OF REPUBLIC ACT 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - Itis hereby declared the policy of the
State to promote equitability in the Internal Revenue Allotment distribution for
cities and municipalities, especially in cases of de-population as a result of man-
made or natural calamities.

SEC. 2. Exemption - In view of its unique character, where majority of its
population are residing outside its territorial jurisdiction, the Municipality of
Bacolor, Pampanga is hereby granted exemption from the implementation of the
subsection on Population Formula, provided for by Sec. 285. Allocation to Local
Government Units of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code, for a period of not more than ten (10) years. As such, the
Municipality and all its component Barangays, during the exemption period, are
authorized to instead use the number of registered voters as the basis for

computing their Internal Revenue Allotment share.


SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

Approved,