Expert Flags Fiscal Risk in SC Ruling on LGU Revenue Share

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The third issue of the Development Research News (DRN) centers on the challenges affecting effective service delivery of local government units (LGUs). The banner article talks about the fiscal risk of increasing LGUs' share in the national taxes starting 2022 as a result of the Supreme Court ruling on the petition to revisit the computation of the internal revenue allotment. Such increase, however, could help LGUs perform their devolved functions effectively. The DRN also features articles on how LGUs perform in terms of planning, budget spending, and disaster risk reduction and management efficiency. Other local-level issues, such as poor access to weather information among small farmers in Benguet, the need to reform energy regulations to maximize the potential of distributed energy resources, and the unfair red-tagging of indigenous peoples in the country, are also discussed in this quarter's DRN. Completing this issue are an article on the unclear benefits of China's Belt and Road Initiative to the country and an infographic on the maldistribution of health workers across the Philippines.