It is now time to revise the Local Government Code (LGC) to empower local government units (LGUs) down to the barangays by giving them more autonomy in levying taxes to finance farm assistance programs and the provision of basic services.

Lawyer Raul Lambino said in a recent edition of the Friday Balitaan sa Rembrandt in Quezon City that LGC was premised precisely on making LGUs autonomous, with health and agricultural functions devolved to enable them to respond better to the needs of their constituents.

He said it is now time to review the tax structure, which former Bureau of International Revenue (BIR) tax fraud division chief lawyer Frederick Capitan labeled as based on voluntary compliance, with the proceeds accruing to the national government before the same is distributed to LGUs.

Capitan said the 12 percent Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) is retrogressive since it punishes the poor more than it burdens the rich.

In two separate occasions, Lambino expressed his desire to arm LGUs with the power to impose taxes and thus earn revenues to fund programs that their constituents need.

Speaking before 1,500 barangay chairmen and officials of Pangasinan in Oxford Hotel, Clark, Pampanga, stressed that barangays and LGUs must be given bigger shares of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).