1. HOW PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNANCE in the Philippines Talk by Nene Pimentel before concerned citizens at the AHI Office, Makati, on April 27, 2015
2. We are talking here of people who are not themselves serving in government. We are talking of people who are strictly speaking outside government service But, who are responsible for putting people in public service or working with the latter without holding public office.
3. BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.
4. PEOPLE PUT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN PUBLIC OFFICE: THROUGH ELECTIONS National Elections Regional Elections Local Elections Barangay Elections (SK Elections)
5. ELECTED NATIONALLY 1. THE PRESIDENT 2. THE VICE PRESIDENT 3. 24 SENATORS 4. PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVES
6. ELECTED REGIONALLY REGIONAL GOVERNORS, VICE GOVERNORS, MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIESOF THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS
7. ELECTED LOCALLY 1. By Province: Members of the House, Governor, Vice Governor, Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan; 2. By City* or Municipality: Mayor, Vice Mayor, Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsud or Bayan; *Some Cities elect their own Representatives 3. By Barangay: Barangay Captain, Members of the Sangguniang Barangay
8. ADDITIONAL ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR SP/SB MEMBERS PROVINCES that have more than five legislative districts, each district shall have two SP members, without prejudice to the provisions of Section 2 of Republic Act No. 6637. Sangguniang Barangay members shall be elected at large. The Presidents of the league of sangguniang members of component cities and municipalities shall serve as ex officio members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguiang Panlunsod, and Sangguiang Bayan (as amended by R.A. 8553). [MORE ON SECTORAL REPRESENTATIVES]
9. HOW LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE ELECTED (Section 41, LG Code) (a) The governor, vice governor, city mayor, city vice mayor, municipal mayor, municipal vice mayor, and punong barangay shall be elected at large in their respective units by the qualified voters therein. [However, the Sangguniang Kabataan chairman for each barangay shall be elected by the registered voters of the katipunan ng kabataan, as provided in this Code.] (b) The regular members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlunsod, and Sangguniang Bayan shall be elected by district as follows: 1st & 2nd class provinces shall have ten regular members; 3rd & 4th class provinces, eight; and 5th & 6th (no more class) provinces, six. - More on Election of LGU Officials -
10. PRINCIPAL LAW GOVERNING LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS: The Local Government Code (R.A. 7160) Enacted by Congress in compliance with the mandate of Article X of the Constitution. Fixes the structures, the powers, and the duties of, and other matters relative to the functioning of 4 local government units (LGUs): (1) the province; (2) the city; (3) the municipality, and (4) the
11. Regional Governments The regional governments envisioned by the Constitution for the ARRM and the CAR, are also local governments in the sense, among other things, that they are not the national government. But we will not discuss them here in detail. [There are 17 administrative regions of the country: 8 in Luzon; 3 in the Visayas, and 6 in Mindanao which are AGENTS of the national government NOT LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS].
12. HOW PEOPLE OUT OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE EXERCISE POLITICAL POWER WITH THOSE IN PUBLIC OFFICE: By joining People’s or Non-Government Organizations. This is authorized by Sections 34 and 35 of the LG Code. Under Sec. 34 - LGUs are mandated to “promote the establishment and operation of people’s and NGOs to become active partners in the pursuit of local autonomy.” In Sec. 35 – LGUs are empowered to establish Linkages with People’s Organizations and NGOs through: (a) joint ventures and (b) other cooperative arrangements.
13. OBJECTIVES of POs and NGOs working with Government: (1) delivery certain basic services; (2) capability building and livelihood projects; (3) develop local enterprises designed to improve productivity and income; (4) diversify agriculture; (5) spur rural industrialization; (6) promote ecological balance, and (7) enhance the economic and social well-being of the people.
14. LGUs MAY ASSIST NGOs Under Section 36. Assistance to People’s and Non- Governmental Organizations. LGUs are authorized - through their local chief executive and with the concurrence of the sanggunian concerned – to assist POs, and NGOs financially or otherwise in their economic, socially oriented, environmental or cultural projects within their territorial jurisdiction.
