The League of Cities of the Philippines is not in favor of a No-Election scenario in 2007, Dumaguete City Mayor Agustin Perdices said yesterday.

He said the consensus was reached by members of the league at their meeting in Iloilo City during the weekend.

The league, instead, favors the holding of synchronized elections from the top to bottom elective positions, excluding the barangays, he said.

Perdices said the main concern aired by the League members was the release of their withheld Internal Revenue Allotment for 2000 and 2001 that has reached P17.5 billion, which non release has been declared illegal by the Supreme Court.

He said the league would rather have the amount demonetized than to wait another seven years.

Of the withheld IRA, the city government of Dumaguete is expecting a share of P22 million in a span of seven years, but Perdices said he prefers to monetize the amount at P14 million this year.

Local government units all over the country are awaiting the release of the withheld IRA after President Arroyo announced its release last year.*

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