PGBh and agri-line agencies harmonizing projects under PAFES

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBH) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) together
with the different agri-line agencies of the government are now harmonizing agri-fishery programs and projects to
avoid duplication in the full implementation of the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System
(PAFES).

Last Wednesday, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-7 facilitated the Synergize for Success: A
Harmonization Meeting and Planning Workshop with the PGBh through the OPA, Department of Agriculture-Bohol
Agricultural Promotion Center (DA-BAPC), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Office of the
Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) held at the ATI-RTC7, Cabawan District, Tagbilaran City discussing things in
preparation of Bohol for the full devolution of basic services from the national government agencies to Local
Government Units (LGUs).

The implementation of the programs/projects through PAFES is an off-shoot of the Mandanas – Garcia ruling
that provides LGus with larger share of the national revenue, giving them more financial autonomy. This increased
fiscal autonomy can potentially enhance their capacity to plan and deliver services effectively.

The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the just share of LGUs from the national taxes is not limited to “national
internal revenue taxes” collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) but includes collections (customs duties)
by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

The PAPES was conceptualized in the time of President Noynoy Aquino in accordance with the full
implementation of the Local Government Code that the functions of the projects/programs of the national agencies
be devolved to the provincial and municipal government units.

However, it was President Rodrigo R. Duterte who issued an Executive Order No. 138 in 2021 ordering to
implement the Mandanas Ruling of the Supreme Court, which states the LGUs should get 40 percent of all
government tax collections and not just internal revenue, three years prior.

Provincial Agriculturist Liza M. Quirog said that with the full implementation of the Mandanas Ruling, the
National Tax Allocation (Internal Revenue Allotment before) would have a significant increase that needs to be
planned, programmed and managed well to maximize impact of the projects by the PLGU and MLGUs in Bohol.
Ramil Rodela, Planning Division Officer, OPA disclosed that in the present situation, there are duplications of
programs and projects of the PGBh and DA such as; seeds, fertilizers and machineries of which there were
beneficiaries who received the same projects while others do not have.

Before the harmonization meeting, there were coordination meeting conducted by the coordinators of the
different programs of the PGBh, DA and BFAR to orient the PAPES programs and projects.
Quirog emphasized that what the province of Bohol doing now is the preparation stage in order to act or
implement immediately once the president orders a full implementation of system.

This development happened amid report from national news that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. accordingly
said “that the lower – class communities would be at a disadvantage if functions are devolved to them despite the
extra internal revenue allotment “and accordingly ordered government agencies to study Executive Order No. 138
for the possible amendments, and to determine what national government functions to be devolved to the LGUs as a
result of the Mandanas – Gacia ruling. By Atoy Cosap