Local Legislators' Toolkit - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng ...

1. Understanding the Legislative ProcessSanggunian members should know and understand the legislative process as the core ofthe sanggunian’s work. With this knowledge, sanggunian members can activelyparticipate in sessions and committee work.Tools 1 and 2 describe the legislative process as a set of procedures that ensure theparticipatory and transparent nature of legislative decision-making. It involves stakeholdersinternal and external to the sanggunian, which play roles that influence the substance of theordinance. Internal stakeholders are sanggunian members, sanggunian secretary and staff.External stakeholders are the LCE, heads of administrative departments, civil societyorganizations and individuals.Tool 2Steps in Enacting Ordinances and ResolutionsFollowing are the procedural steps in enacting ordinances and resolutions:Phase 1. Introduction or SponsorshipStep 1. <strong>The</strong> measure is filed by a sanggunian member or group of members with thesecretary in its draft form.Step 2. <strong>The</strong> secretary records the draft measure in a logbook with the following information:o Name of the author/authorso Title of the proposed ordinance or resolutiono Date filed, ando <strong>The</strong> number assigned to it.Step 3. <strong>The</strong> title of the measure is read on first reading. If a measure is proposed by acommittee and presented with a report, it need not go through first reading but isscheduled for second reading.Step 4. <strong>The</strong> presiding officer assigns the measure to a committee that will study it.Phase 2. Committee Deliberation and ActionStep 5. <strong>The</strong> committee conducts a meeting and/or hearing to hear the arguments for andagainst the measure. <strong>The</strong>se can be attended by members of governmentagencies and nongovernmental organizations.120