The Department of the Interior and Local Government assured on Wednesday that it would carry out continuous capacity development efforts to empower local government units — particularly in managing agriculture, health, and environment services to ensure the efficient delivery of devolved functions and services.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. revealed that based on the LGU Devolution Transition Plan Analytics assessment conducted by the agency, priority sectors for provinces in the CapDev agenda are agriculture, environment, health, and administrative matters, while those for component cities/municipalities are agriculture, health, environment, social welfare, and administrative sectors, as identified by the respective LGUs.

"The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains committed to providing LGUs with support and technical assistance amid full devolution. I urge the Local Government Academy to lead and collaborate with national government agencies towards improved CapDev initiatives in areas where they need it the most," Abalos said.

He added that the LGA — in collaboration with the NGAs — must calibrate its CapDev initiatives in connection with the result of these analytics data to better address the CapDev needs of LGUs.
"We must adhere to the results of the DTP Analytics as these will guide us on the most ideal CapDev initiatives to be implemented to better assist the LGUs amid the implementation of full devolution," Abalos said.

He explained that among the areas covered by the Data Capture Forms in the assessment are the inventory of devolved functions and services, phasing of full assumption of devolved functions, services, and facilities by the LGU, budget for financial sector forums for full assumption, existing and proposed additional plantilla positions and budget and performance monitoring for devolved functions and services.

In a regional briefing on full devolution, the DILG's Bureau of Local Government Development said the analytics also showed that LGUs recommended the hiring of additional regular staff in provinces, cities, and municipalities to aid them in their health, agriculture, social welfare, and infrastructure responsibilities.

"The proposed augmentation of human resources will support full devolution. With such, no province, city, municipality, and barangay will be left behind," Abalos said.

At least 75 provinces, 144 cities, 1,370 municipalities, and 39,450 barangays have already submitted their DTP.

"We are closely assisting LGUs that have not yet completed and submitted their DTPs. Hopefully, they can meet the requirements so they could start operationalizing and incorporating it in their budget preparation and revenue mobilization," Abalos said.