On first reading: Talisay council OKs LEDAC measure

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City will soon form its own Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council after the City Council approved on the first reading the ordinance creating the body.

City Councilor Danilo Caballero, council minority floor leader, said Ledac is vital as it studies the city's legislative agenda and ensures that programs are implemented consistently to promote inclusive development.

In a proposed Ordinance No. 2014- 36 - 1, the council will be created with five members, chosen among the members of the council and chaired by the local chief executive officer.

Caballero said upon the creation of the Executive-Legislative Agenda for this term's administration, specifically 2014-2016 , some issues and concerns were seen to impede the delivery of basic services.

This included the need to enhance proper coordination between the executive and legislative departments; absence of monitoring body to check status of the implementation of the approved measures; inability to scrutinize and thoroughly review budget ordinances; Improper Sangguniang Panlungsod legislative tracking system; lack of barangay consultative sessions; difficulty on cross-referencing of relevant and pertinent local laws and ordinances; inability to act on legal complaints on matters brought before the Sangguniang Panlungsod from barangay level and failure to practice the process of call for accreditation of NGOs and POs.

"To address the administrative issues and concerns, to effectively exercise the corporate powers of the city and to fully discharge its duties and responsibilities as a public corporation, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Talisay recognizes the necessity to formulate a distinct local advisory council," Caballero said.

The establishment of Ledac aims to support the local government in performing the formulation of the local development plan and formulation of the Executive and Legislative Agenda and the Legislative Agenda.

According to Caballero, Ledac will also be a venue for checking when and how ordinances enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod are being implemented.

It may also recommend amendments to ordinances or changes to implementing rules and regulations to improve effectiveness of programs being implemented.

Also, Ledac may recommend the basis for allocating the budget and reviews the executive budget before it undergoes approval by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

It may also study and evaluate requests for supplemental budgets to be enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Caballero said in order to ensure the participation of the communities in local government affairs, Ledac may conduct joint legislative-executive public or stakeholder consultations.

"This way, constituents may see a common and united front working towards the attainment of the LGU vision for development," he said.

If the ordinance will be approved, the body will be composed of city mayor as chairperson; vice mayor as co-chairperson while regular SP members, SP ex-officio, all department heads, Department of Ineterior and Local Government, the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, barangay chairmen and accredited civic society organizations as members.

The SP secretary will be the principal secretariat to the council. — Garry B. Lao (FREEMAN)