“Imperial Arroyo,” and not “Imperial Manila,” is hindering political and economic reforms in the country, Makati Mayor and United Opposition (UNO) president Jejomar C. Binay said today.

Binay was reacting to Mrs. Arroyo’s criticism of “Imperial Manila” during her State of the Nation Address (SONA) Monday.

“The statement is unfair to local governments and businesses in Metro Manila. If there is anyone acting imperial, it is Mrs. Arroyo herself because she wants to control everything,” Binay said.  

The Makati Mayor cited the use of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) as a political tool by Malacanang to reward loyal local executives and punish those who do not support her regime.

“Under Mrs. Arroyo’s regime, the timely release of IRA and other development funds to LGUs is a reward for loyalty. This is a perversion of the objectives of the IRA as envisioned in the Local Government Code, which is to provide LGUs a degree of financial independence from Malacanang,” he said.

Binay also said Mrs. Arroyo’s order to release a supplemental budget for the IRA, which means that the LGUs are not receiving their IRA on time, is not in keeping with provisions of the Local Government Code and a Supreme Court decision.

“There is provision in the Local Government Code mandating automatic release of IRA to local governments. The Supreme Court has also ruled that withholding the IRA is unconstitutional,” he said.

Binay said if Mrs. Arroyo is really sincere in her statement that LGUs are very vital in economic development, and if it is really true that the national government has the money, then she should release the IRA on time.

“The statement about the provinces being controlled by Imperial Manila was meant to play to the galleries. The reality, however, is that the local governments, the entire country, are being held hostage by Imperial Arroyo,” he said.