Page 5 - OLLA 2013

Outstanding Local Legislator Award 2013
MI has been prompted to take recognizant of our Local Legislators all over the country
who may be in the back room but regulate in their respective areas and communities
Slegislating relevant laws and ordinances that keep civil society humming if not for
commerce, the freedoms enshrined in our constitution. We pay homage to our Local Legislators
who have to deal with the sensitive balancing acts between business and public service. While
there are obviously some conflict issues with regards to our freedoms, the national patrimony
does not necessarily take precedence above all liberties. Local legislation keeps the forces at
bay to serve their communities first above all.
FOREWORD contest to determine Outstanding as to being number one or being First. It is all about the
The Outstanding Local Legislators Award is not about good, better or best. It is not a
brand, or the consistent delivery of the brand promise generating integrity making them the
brand. While many are already “Outstanding” in their own right having received the mandate
from the people thru the power of the vote – to receive the nomination and to participate
in this Outstanding Local Legislators Award is the true testament towards services rendered
to the people highlighted not by government alone but by an independent award giving
body; Superbrands Marketing International Inc. Superbrands awards products and services
worldwide. The Outstanding project is a commitment by SMI to uphold and recognize key
government positions and professionals who are involved with nation building.
We congratulate the nominees and participants of the Outstanding Local Legislator who
in 2103 have made the mark and the commitment to serve their constituents. Public Service is
not necessarily what many perceive it to be other than the derogatory statements irresponsible
critiques generate without proof or veracity. To generate the commitment required of the
people towards their leaders is proof of satisfaction given their chosen vote. Public Service
most often is misconstrued towards a charity aimlessly accepted by the people; it is about
vision, it is about commitment, it is about a competence to lead the people towards prosperity
and independence.
SMI celebrates the Outstanding Local Legislator Awards with the competence and
sustaining projects and advocacies that are compiled in this publication. The nature of Local
Legislators; 1 Metropolitan Government; 1 Autonomous Regional Government; 1 Special
Administrative Region; 78 Provinces; 67 Cities; 1,600 Municipalities; and 42,000 Barangays
Local governments in the Philippines have their roots in the colonial administration of
Spain, which lasted in the Philippines for some 327 years. The last 50 years of the present century
saw several developments towards decentralization. The Local Autonomy Act of 1959, the
passage of the Barrio Charter and the Decentralization Act of 1967 were all incremental national
legislations in response to the clamor for a self-rule concept. The Philippine Constitutions
of 1972 and 1987 also significantly influenced the movement for political devolution. The
Local Government Code is a most comprehensive document on local government touching
on structures, functions and powers, including taxation and intergovernmental relations. Local
governments have four major categories of functions: Efficient service delivery; Management
of the environment; Economic development; and Poverty alleviation.
The Local Government Code Section 447 (Municipal Governments), section 458 (City
Governments) and section 468 (Provincial Governments) define the functions and powers of
the different local authorities. The provisions are standard and descriptive of the functions and
powers of local government and are similar to the provisions of Section 468 for Provinces.
They stipulate that: “The Sangguniang Panlalawigan”, as the legislative body of the province,
shall enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the
province and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of this code and in proper exercise of the
corporate powers of the province as provided for under Section 22 of this code.
Public-private partnership at the local levels is very much alive and well. The
Constitution and the Local Government Code have provisions on the concept of the three P’s
(Public Private Partnership). The 1987 Constitution has a separate provision on the roles and
rights of People’s Organizations (POs) in public affairs and in local governance. It states that
the State shall respect the role of independent POs to enable the people to pursue and protect,
within the democratic framework, their legitimate and collective interests and aspirations
through peaceful and lawful means.
Civil societies are represented in various local development councils. Several
administrative orders of the central government implementing the constitutional provision and
the intention of the Local Government Code regarding public participation in general, require
that all local councils in all levels should be represented by various NGOs and POs such
as farmer cooperatives, fishermen’s associations etc. Several sectors of society like youth;
women, farmers and other special groups have voices in the process of public decision making.
A mandatory provision insofar as membership of POs and NGOs in development councils in
all levels states is concerned is that they should represent 25 per cent of the total membership of
these councils. Local legislative councils do not act local laws like tax ordinances with finality
unless public hearings are conducted first. The idea of consulting people first before any taxes
is adopted by the local legislative bodies is to operationalise the concept of representation by
the constituencies through public hearings and consultation before the imposition of proposed
local taxes. NGOs and POs are likewise very active in local development activities. These
institutions work very closely with local authorities in attaining mutual community interests.
Some 16,000 NGOs and POs undergo a process of accreditation that determines the types
and classes of NGOs existing in all regions. The process includes the determination of the
subjects and ideas NGOs advocate, such as environmental protection, legal issues and rights to
development including lobbying efforts to protect/promote specific sectoral interests.
There is no doubt there is a complexity rather than simplicity towards the responsibilities
of our Local Legislators that requires recognition from the people in a bureaucracy than
sustains Nation Building efforts we at times take for granted. Kudos to the 2013 Outstanding
Local Legislators!
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