Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza underscored Thursday the need to increase the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of various local government units (LGU) to rationalize the pork barrel system by devolving government funds, including the congressional pork, to stimulate economic development in the countryside.

“The IRA share of barangays nationwide should be jacked up by rationalizing the distribution of government money. This will make LGU operation more sustainable and effective especially in poor provinces,” he said in a press statement.

Plaza, who is seeking a Senate seat under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), made the call as he lamented that the LGU officials, especially in barangays, treat the IRA as a “dole out” which failed to assist them in defraying their operational expenses and in delivering basic services.

The three-term congressman noted that the Philippines remains a slacker in terms of progress if compared with its Asian neighbors primarily due to unequal distribution of IRA shares.

“IRA is the lifeblood of LGUS. Sadly, there hasn’t been much economic and social progress made in LGUs since 1991. Since its implementation, the IRA has not fully addressed the economic development disparities among LGUs,” Plaza explained.

“There is an urgent need to increase the IRA of LGUs that needs it in order to spur development in those areas. Likewise, senators and congressmen can devote a huge part of their pork barrel funds for distribution to LGUs. We need to decentralize government spending and allow LGUs to set their own priorities. Those in the field are in the best position to identify the projects and programs that would best benefit the people,” Plaza said.

Since his proposal would require an amendment to the Local Government Code of 1991, Plaza also pressed for the fixing of barangay officials’ term from the present three years to five years.

“To promote continuity, barangay officials should be allowed to serve longer. We should give them more power at the same time so that they don’t end up being lapdogs of higher local executives such as governors, mayors and congressmen,” he stressed.