‘LGU role’ of lawmakers
This refers to former representative Rodante Marcoleta’s letter titled “Marcoleta: LGUs liable for irregular PDAF projects” (Opinion, 9/29/14).
I beg to differ with his point of view that “While I cannot speak for my colleagues, lawmakers do not meddle with the affairs of local government units (LGUs) not only because it is beyond their mandate but more so because, by law, they are autonomous units.”
Section 107, paragraph (a) (3) of the Local Government Code of 1991, expressly provides the composition of a
local development council, and a House representative is a member thereof. This council is tasked to “assist the corresponding sanggunian (council) in
setting the direction of economic and social development, and corresponding, and coordinating development efforts within its territorial jurisdiction.”
How I wish members of Congress to be more focused on their legislative work and to realize their important role in the development of local government units. To put it bluntly, I wish and humbly offer them the following suggestions on how to reform Congress:
- Not to absent themselves from sessions. The primary duty of a member of Congress is to make, amend or repeal laws. How can a legislator do justice to this mandate if he or she is an inveterate absentee? Therefore, no member of Congress should be allowed to show up at the plenary hall just for the roll call and leave thereafter without attending or finishing the session.
- Read Republic Act No. 7160. The law should be a must-read for them. Better still, every member of Congress, especially a House representative, should be required to read the Local Government Code of 1991, especially the provisions that require them to participate in program and policy deliberations of special local bodies, particularly the local development councils, in order to break free from patronage politics.
- Make public their individual
performance record. Our people should be given the
opportunity to track the legislative performance of their legislators. Their attendance, the number of resolutions or bills they filed and which or how many of these became laws, how frequently they visited their legislative districts are just but a few of the performance indicators our people should be made aware of.
- Get involved in legislative
agenda-setting. Congress members, be they from the majority or minority party, should have a clear-cut legislative agenda. This will give our people a sense of security, knowing that their Congress is working with a sense of purpose and direction. What do our lawmakers wish for our country? What policies in the form of laws should they pass to regulate or control societal life?
I am confident that members of Congress will heed my suggestions.
—REGINALD B. TAMAYO,
assistant city council secretary,
Marikina City
