Resolution Creating a Select Oversight Committee on the Local Government Code of 1991

August 10, 2011

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 054-11

RESOLUTION CREATING A SELECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

WHEREAS, Section 3, Article X of the 1987 Constitution mandates Congress to "enact a local government code which shall provide for a more responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through a system of decentralization with effective mechanisms of recall, initiative and referendum, allocate among the different local government units their powers, responsibilities, and resources, and provide for the qualifications, election, appointment and removal, term, salaries, powers and functions and duties of local officials, and all other matters relating to the organization and operation of the local units"; HIaTCc

WHEREAS, pursuant to the above-cited Constitutional mandate, Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, was enacted to strengthen local autonomy and devolution of powers to the local government units of the country;

WHEREAS, Section 521 of the Code provides that "Congress shall undertake a mandatory review of this Code at least once every five (5) years and as often as it may deem necessary, with the primary objective of providing a more responsive and accountable local government structure";

WHEREAS, twenty (20) years since the enactment of the Local Government Code, this law has not been thoroughly reviewed by Congress, despite the countless bills filed in the Senate and the House of Representatives, even during the previous Congresses, proposing numerous amendments to the various provisions of the said Code;

WHEREAS, only two provisions of the Code have been amended accordingly, and these are the repeal of the Preparatory Recall Assembly which is now embodied in Republic Act No. 9244, and the increase in the average annual income requirement for a municipality or cluster of barangays to be converted into component cities, which is now mandated by Republic Act No. 9009;

WHEREAS, there is an imperative need to conduct a mandatory and comprehensive review of the Local Government Code in order to be responsive to the new challenges of local governance and decentralization;

WHEREAS, it is essential to constitute the Select Oversight Committee on Local Government Code of 1991 in order to spearhead a methodical and exhaustive review of this important piece of legislation, and introduce the necessary amendments thereto;

WHEREAS, Section 14, Rule X of the Rules of the Senate provides that ''Whenever necessary, special committees shall be organized, the membership and jurisdiction of which shall be determined by the Senate President": Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, as it is hereby resolved by the Senate, To create a Select Oversight Committee on the Local Government Code of 1991. TDESCa

Adopted,

(SGD.) JUAN PONCE ENRILEPresident of the Senate

This Resolution was adopted by the Senate on August 10, 2011.

(SGD.) EMMA LIRIO-REYESSecretary of the Senate