Attend Soma, Soca, Sopa to know how LGUs spent money

The first regular session this January of the sanggunian of the local government units (LGUs), that is, the municipality, city, province, is an important occasion. It is the schedule of local chief executives (LCEs) to render their executive reports to their respective legislative councils as required by Sections 444 (b) (1) (iii), 455 (b) (1) (iii), and 465 (b) (1) (iii) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

The executive reports of the LCEs consist of two parts: the accomplishments of their LGUs of the preceding year, and the proposed plans, programs, activities, and services of the LCEs for this year. The proposals will also serve as bases for the drafting of the legislative agenda of the sanggunian.

The code, however, also provides that the conduct of Soma (State of the Municipality Address), Soca (State of the City Address), and Sopa (State of the Province Address) may also be held “as often as may be deemed necessary as the general welfare of the inhabitants” and the needs of the local government units may require. Since there is no expressed prohibition in the code, the punong barangay is not precluded from rendering an executive report during the conduct of a Soba (State of the Barangay Address).

I urge our people to attend these important LGU events, or secure a copy of the report of their LCEs, and know how their LGUs spent their paid taxes last year and what are the priority projects, programs, and activities to be implemented in their respective LGUs for the current year.

Tayo ay makialam, makilahok, at makipagtulungan sa LGU!

REGINALD B. TAMAYO,

Marikina City