CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The League of Cities in the Philippines (LCP) has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to look into the legality of the formation of 16 new cities throughout the country.

In a press conference during the First LCP Caravan-Mindanao Island Cluster Meeting, Mayor Benhur Abalos of Mandaluyong City, LCP president, said the league has filed a petition with the SC questioning the constitutionality of recently enacted laws allowing the conversion of municipalities to cities. This, he said, quoting the LCP, would undermine the growth of already established cities.

The LCP leadership hopes the SC will act on its petition before the end of the year and before the enactment of the 2008 budget.

Included in the petition is the city of El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, which was created by Republic Act 9534, signed into law by President Arroyo only this year.

Some LCP members claimed the new cities do not qualify as such because they failed to meet the criteria on population and income. They said not one met the minimum set by law.

Earlier, former congressman Augusto “Jun” Baculio, author of the law creating El Salvador City, claimed the criteria did not apply to El Salvador because the measure for cityhood was filed prior to the increase of the minimum requirements.

Mayor Abalos, however, admitted that their petition is partly motivated by the issue of allocation of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) which is set by law.

Existing cities would have to let go of a percentage of their IRA, as these will be allocated for the newly created cities.

“What will be affected most if our revenue allotment [is reduced] would be the social services. It is like a cake: when shared among a few, it would be filling to the stomach, but when shared by many, the slices become thinner and less appreciated by the consumers and they may end up hungry,” Abalos said.

He cited the City of Puerto Princesa in Palawan, which stands to lose about P200 million of its IRA in 2008.

He estimates that this city may lose about the same figure next year. A check with the City Finance Office confirmed that the amount may be in that vicinity. The city receives about P48 million every month or more than P500 million each year from its IRA. To lose P200 million could substantially affect the funding of some projects and services in the city.

But Cagayan de Oro Mayor Constantino Jaraula said in a radio interview that “since the law requires the sharing of the IRA for the new cities, then let’s abide by the law.”

Jaraula said it is now up to the cities to look for means to increase their income and make up for the deficit in order to sustain their local projects.  

City officials of Valencia City in Bukidnon claimed their IRA in 2007 amounted to P392 million-plus after adjustment; and they may lose more than P100 million in 2008.

“Bigger cities may be able to cope with the loss, but what about the smaller cities whose income depends so much on the IRA?” Abalos asked.

Of the 16 cities created in 2007, six are from Mindanao, including El Salvador, seven from the Visayas and three from Luzon.

The six Mindanao cities are El Salvador, Bayugan and Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte, Tandag in Surigao del Sur, Mati in Davao del Sur and Lamitan in Basilan.

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The League of Cities in the Philippines (LCP) has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to look into the legality of the formation of 16 new cities throughout the country.

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