Boletín– JULIO 2016

The law aims to transfer power and resources from the central government to local municipalities, promoting efficiency, citizen access to services, and competitiveness. The implementation of the Ley de Descentralización requires the socialization of the law among municipal officials, organizations of civil society, and the media. Sensitization efforts are also necessary to emphasize the importance of the law and its complementary instruments. The new municipal authorities will depend on strategic alliances and the will of the sectors to favor local and municipal interests. The FOPRIDEH organization has been actively involved in the process, conducting intense lobbying efforts with key actors in the National Congress to include the themes related to the work of development organizations in the new Tax Code. The organization has proposed a draft that has been shared with various stakeholders, including the Coordinador Bancada del Partido Liberal, Diputada Gabriela Núñez, and the Presidente de la Comisión de Dictamen del Código Ing. Edgardo Martínez. The Ley de Descentralización has been a long-awaited achievement, and its implementation will require the cooperation of various institutions, including the AMHON, FOPRIDEH, and SDHJGD. The law's impact will be significant, promoting efficiency, citizen access to services, and competitiveness in the municipalities. In Honduras, the payment of municipal transfers for 2016 and 2015 has been a complex process. The Secretaria de Derechos Humanos, Justicia, Gobernación y Descentralización (SDHJGD) approved L.5,021,067,532.00 million lempiras for the year 2016, of which L.4,760,000,000.00 million lempiras are allocated for municipal transfers. The Government Central has paid L.1,737,246,029.50 million lempiras to the municipalities through the Secretaria de Finanzas for the months of January, February, March, April, and May 2016. The payment of municipal transfers for 2015 has also been a challenge. The Government Central has paid L.4,129,548,695.50 million lempiras, representing 10.82% of the 11% annual payment for 2015. The payment of municipal transfers for 2016 has been slow, with a 4.01% execution rate as of July 31, 2016.