Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. said he is not in favor of amending provisions of the Local Government Code, particularly on the proposed creation of cities.

Lina, who was the guest of honor at the launching of the Character First Movement held at the Bethel Guesthouse in Dumaguete City recently, said the House of Representatives has not yet made a study on the effects of the amendment on provincial governments, and small municipalities.

Newly created cities will no longer share their real property taxes with  the provincial government, after their conversion into component cities, he pointed out.

Provinces will then have less money to help small municipalities, he said.

The League of Cities in the Philippines had reiterated its opposition to the proposed reduction of the income requirement of a municipality to become a city, from P100 million to P50 million, aside from the population and area requirements.

Lina said, though, it would be better for Congress to just amend the law on the reduction of income requirement to P50 million, rather than exempting them.* JG

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