The juvenile justice bill may have gotten the nod of the Congressional Bicameral Conference Committee, but not of the local government officials.

The League of Provinces of the Philippines and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, through its president – Bohol Gov. Erico B. Aumentado, have brought before Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo their objections to some provisions of the said piece of legislation, particularly it being an undue imposition on the LGUs internal revenue allotment.

“We take exception to the provision which requires that one percent of the IRA of each LGU shall be allocated for the implementation of the various provisions of the proposed law,” Aumentado explained.

In the letter to Pres. Arroyo, the LGU leader explained that this provision, belatedly inserted in the approved bill, “amounts to a rider that clearly interferes with the principle of local autonomy and decentralization”, and asked her to veto the same since this was not part of the original bill which she earlier certified as urgent.

He lamented that the said the insertion of the provision undermines the provisions of the Constitution and the Local Government Code granting the LGUs fiscal autonomy.

While the LGUs are willing to appropriate a certain portion of their IRA for development of a Comprehensive Juvenile Integration and Restorative Program and the Establishment of a Youth Detention Home and Youth Rehabilitation Center, Aumentado said they object to the unwarranted imposition in the IRA because it weakens the mandate of local government to attain their fullest development as self-reliant communities.

Nevertheless, the governor assured that the LGU officials share the noble objectives of the proposed bill, which is expected to be adopted by Congress and approved by the president into law in the near future.

“We assure Her Excellency that this appeal comes with the assurance that we shall not waver in our commitment to champion the cause of our children for a better future,” Aumentado said. (ANGELICA J. SANCHEZ)