MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has approved a bill allowing the public’s participation in government processes with the creation of a people’s council in each local government unit (LGU).
Voting 217-0 with six abstentions, House members approved on third and final reading on Monday night House Bill 7950 or the People Empowerment Act of which Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco and people’s participation committee chairperson Florida Robes are principal authors.
The bill seeks to create a people’s council to be composed of civil society organizations to be accredited by municipal or city councils.
The council members shall elect among themselves representatives to local and special government bodies, boards, councils, committees, task forces and other similar work groups to be created under national laws or by local governments.
They may participate in the conceptualization and evaluation of activities and programs of the national or local governments as well as propose legislation and participate at the committee level of local government councils.
The bill also creates a provincial people’s council in each province which shall be composed of representatives from the municipal and city people’s council. They shall elect among themselves a representative to the Sangguniang Panglalawigan and exercise the duties and powers of a provincial board member.
People’s council members are not entitled to compensation and prohibited from participating in partisan politics.
LGUs are mandated to provide them with necessary office spaces, facilities and equipment.