LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The provincial board approved an ordinance institutionalizing the conduct of continuing legislative education for councilors in the province once every quarter, providing funds for the same and for other purposes.
Board Member Nestor Fongwan, Jr., author of Ordinance No. 2022-297, stated that the objectives of the measure is to make the members of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) more effective and efficient legislators in support of improving their local government’s performance; to establish a forum to ventilate matters involving local legislative concerns; to strengthen the rapport, the camaraderie and brotherhood among the members of the league and to formulate, implement and coordinate programs, projects and activities beneficial to the members of the league and the general welfare of the people.
Under the ordinance, the PCL Benguet chapter officers and members shall plan for the smooth implementation of their programs and activities for the continuing legislative education for councilors.
Further, the continuing legislative education will include lectures, workshops, discussions, planning sessions and such other activities so as to update the members of the league on applicable laws, rules and other matters to ensure efficient governance.
Fongwan claimed in order to ensure that the objectives, intents and purposes of the ordinance, an undisclosed amount will be allocated for its proper implementation.
According to him, one of the primary objectives of the PCL is the promotion of the general welfare of the members of the league or the welfare of the people pursuant to Section 1(4) of its constitution and by-laws which provides that the organization shall formulate, implement and coordinate programs, projects and activities to attain the said objective.
Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, states that Sanggunian members of component cities and municipalities shall form a provincial federation and elect a board of directors and a set of officers headed by the president.
Moreover, the Code provides that the league and federations may derive funds from contributions of individual league or federation members or from fund-raising projects and activities.
On the other hand, the local government concerned may appropriate funds to support the leagues or federation organized pursuant to the pertinent provisions of the law subject to the availability of funds.
Fongwan expressed hope that the conduct of the continuing legislative education will be realized to ensure the crafting of quality legislations by the members in their respective areas of jurisdiction to benefit the greater majority of their constituencies.
He stipulated that the league will be tapping experts in the field of legislation to help in enhancing the knowledge and skills of local legislators to formulate resolutions and ordinances to promote the welfare of their constituencies and contribute to growth and development in their jurisdictions.
