Bill seeks eligibility for municipal, city councilors and board members

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is seeking the support of his colleagues for the passage of Senate Bill 2946, which confers civil service eligibility to municipal and city councilors and provincial board members.

In the bill’s explanatory note, Estrada said the Local Government Code of 1991 grants appropriate civil service eligibility on the basis of the number of years of service to the Punong Barangay, Sangguniang Barangay and other barangay officers, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission.

“It is but fitting that elected members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Panlungsod at Panlalawigan, who are carrying out broader and extensive duties and responsibilities be granted the same eligibility privilege,” the senator said.

The Committees on Civil Service and Government Reorganization and Local Government endorsed the plenary approval of Committee Report No. 55 which grants career service sub-professional eligibility to council members who have served for an aggregate period of six years and professional eligibility to those who have served for an aggregate period of nine years, provided they meet the educational requirement of completion of at least 72 units of any baccalaureate program aside from a bachelor’s degree.

The Philippine Councilors League through its national president, Councilor Ronald Carcellar of Poro, Cebu, earlier expressed its full support to the measure.