Legislation and Policy Formulation in Local Government Unit
REPORTER: Neil Bergonio
Legislation is a vital tool in running a certain system
particularly a Government, since humanity has already evolved
throughout the history of our existence yet the system and
process of creating our rules and regulation still the same but
only subjected to some modification in order to arrive on a more
humane policy that will create a better relationship between the
leaders, its subjects and subordinates Legislation and Policy
Formulation is a foundation of certain Institution or Government
system in order to control, limit, and enforce certain actions
and rules for smooth and better interactions in executing
policies and regulation in achieving common good and public
welfare. The Local Government Unit is empowered to create its own
policy as long those Policy will conform to the constitution and
won’t result to any violation and contrary to public morals and
rights of any individual.
The Local legislation can be understood in two ways as power
and as a process. Local Legislation as power - Local legislation
refers to the power of a local legislative body to make rules in
the form of ordinances and resolutions of local application that
have the force and effect of law. Local Legislation as a process
- Local legislation is the interaction of the local legislative
body with the executive branch, civil society including
constituents, nongovernmental organizations and the private
sector resulting in ordinances and resolutions that promote the
development of a local government unit (LGU). The products or
outputs of this interaction are ordinances and resolutions. Local
legislation is important because it is a powerful, vital tool
for: addressing the problems of the citizens of the LGU,
promoting the general welfare and development of the LGU and its
citizens attaining the vision of the LGU for its citizens Local
legislation is a participatory process. It acquires legitimacy
and social acceptability though the involvement of stakeholders
in the LGU, stakeholders are groups, organizations and
individuals who have a ‘stake’ in or whose interests will be
affected by the process of making laws or policies. Local
legislation is made by key stakeholders in the LGU the sanggunian
or local legislative body, the local chief executive, including
local government executives, the constituents, the civil society
organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and people’s
organization, the private sector and other interest groups A key
indicator of effective local legislation is the capacity of local
legislators to analyze the problems and concerns of the
community, aggregate these, and focus efforts to address them in
the context of available resources of the community towards local
development.
The local Legislation has a different term or name that
pertains to their enacted laws it is Ordinance and resolution
An ordinance is a local law that prescribes rules of conduct of a
general, permanent character. It continues to be in force until
repealed or superseded by a subsequent enactment of the local
legislative body. A resolution is a mere expression of the
opinion or sentiment of the local legislative body on matters
relating to proprietary function and to private concerns. It is
temporary in character. To get work done in an efficient and
timely manner, the sanggunian must organize itself into work
groups or committees. Legislative Committee is a group tasked by
the body or assembly to consider, or investigate, or take action
in regard to, certain matters or subjects of public interest.
Standing or Permanent Committees are tasked or assigned a
continuing function and usually remain ‘standing’ or existing co-
terminus with the life of the body that created them. These
committees are created for the purpose of: ordinance or
resolution sponsorship, undertaking public hearings on proposed
measures in aid of legislation, legislative review and referrals
Special or Ad-hoc Committees are created to perform an ad-hoc or
specific task that does not fall within the jurisdiction of a
standing committee. They cease to exist upon completion of its
assigned task.
This kind of delegated power by the National government to
its subordinate LGU the Legislation and Policy Formulation in
Local Government Unit is an effective way in enforcing laws on
its territorial jurisdiction in executing and enforcing rules and
regulation independently is an absolute practice of democracy
granted by the constitution to our LGU in doing its duty as a
collective agency or institution to promote the essence of Nation
building in achieving the ultimate purpose of Progress and Unity.
