Saturday, September 09, 2006
Effectiveness of agenda tops criteria for best councils in RP
To prod local lawmakers to perform, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday launched the search for the country’s best legislative bodies.
Legislative councils will be judged according to the “effectiveness” of their agenda and tracking system, the availability of documents, performance efficiency, and quality of office set-up and staff.
A national award committee and sub-committees will be formed to assess their performance based on these criteria, which the DILG adopted as benchmark to determine the winners.
“Our primary objective is to set a minimum standard of efficiency of a sanggunian’s performance,” said Mandaue City Carlo Fortuna, national president of the Philippine Councilors’ League.
He said that with the awarding, local legislators would think that they too could achieve.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the Local Legislative Award will highlight “innovations and excellence” to inspire other local legislatures to perform better.
He issued a circular addressed to governors, city and municipal mayors, municipal and city councils and DILG regional directors.
Complement
Puno said a local government unit’s legislative agenda must complement that of the executive, was developed in consultation with stakeholders, and must provide action on the comprehensive development plan.
It must also promote and support provincial, regional, and national priority development thrusts.
Cebu City, in particular, may not fare well in the tracking system because it has yet to complete its codification project.
Puno said all ordinances and resolutions since the enactment of the Local Government Code should be on file and indexed by subject, sponsor, and date of approval.
Also, hard copies could be retrieved on inquiry within a reasonable time, and all ordinances and resolutions can be searched and copied.
The sanggunian must likewise have its proceedings journal from June 30, 2005 to June 30, 2006 and the minutes of sessions signed by all members present. Notices of special sessions should likewise be presented to the award committee.
The number of enacted ordinances and resolutions with impact on the community, like those on tax and solid waste management, will be determined.
Fixtures
The session hall and sanggunian members’ offices should also have the appropriate fixtures and equipment, and the sanggunian office should have at least one staff member aside from the secretary.
Fortuna said all legislative bodies, be they in the municipal, city, or provincial level, will be evaluated.
Category for winners will be among highly urbanized cities, independent component cities, component cities, councils of 1st to 3rd class municipalities, and outstanding sanggunian in 4th to 6th class municipalities.
Each winner will receive a trophy and cash reward, initially pegged at P25,000. National finalists will receive plaques of commendation courtesy of the PCL.
Judges will come from different cabinet offices like the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Puno ordered that the awards be given annually to institutionalize the project. (RHM)
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