MUNICIPAL DRAFT ORDINANCE NO.

______

AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE LEGISLATIVE BACKSTOPPING

COMMITTEE (LBC) OF THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN OF VIRAC,
DEFINING ITS FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF
Proponent: Councilor Amador V. Abichuela

WHEREAS, it is a declared policy of the state to give genuine and

meaningful local autonomy to LGU’s for the latter to be able to address the
wide range of today’s demands and complexities;

WHEREAS, in the exercise of local autonomy through political

decentralization, the Sangguniang Bayan of Virac, as a legislative body,
possesses an implied power to perform oversight functions to ensure that
approved ordinances and resolutions are implemented and/or enforced;
determine whether existing programs are administered efficiently and in a
manner consistent with legislative intent or attuned to the needs of the
changing time hence, needs amending or updating;

WHEREAS, in order to carry out this function, there is a need to create a

legislative backstopping committee that would assist the Sangguniang Bayan
in the performance of this duty;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Sangguniang Bayan of Virac in

session assembled, that:

ARTICLE I
Title

Section 1. The title of this ordinance shall be, “AN ORDINANCE CREATING
THE LEGISLATIVE BACKSTOPPING COMMITTEE (LBC) OF THE
SANGGUNIANG BAYAN OF VIRAC, DEFINING ITS FUNCTIONS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF.”

ARTICLE II
General Purpose and Objectives

Section 1. The following, among others are the purposes and objectives of
this ordinance:

a. To institute honest, transparent & accountable governance;

b. To evaluate the viability of an enacted sanggunian measure in terms of

satisfying the specific needs of the target groups in the community for
which such measure is intended to address;

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 c. To provide an avenue for the assessment of the effects of an enacted
measure on identified needs that may require further legislative action;

d. To institute legislative feed-backing mechanisms, monitoring system

and tracking & analysis in the implementation of approved ordinance;

e. To gather information necessary to develop new legislative proposals,

to revise/amend or modify or harmonize existing local laws and/or
any action in aid of legislations;

f. To ensure that approved ordinances or pertinent resolutions are

properly implemented/ acted upon and enforced by the department
or office concerned;

g. To see to it that resolutions, requests or complaint addressed to the

concerned department or office are appropriately and aptly
responded and/or attended to, and acted upon within the legally
mandated and prescribed period;

h. Establish policy direction to guide pertinent department or offices in

their mandated functions;

i. Ensure administrative compliance with the legislative intent;

j. Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations;

and

k. Evaluate the program and performance of the department/office

concerned.

ARTICLE III
Definition of Terms

Section 1. Under this Ordinance, the following terms shall be construed to

mean –

a. Legislative Agenda – refers to a package of legislative reforms or

initiatives to address the short-term and long-term needs and demands
of the inhabitants.

b. Legislative Backstopping Committee – is a research arm of the

sanggunian, whose members are experienced in the fields of policy
science and research and who are adequately knowledgeable on the
varied subjects of legislation that are brought to the attention of the
sanggunian for appropriate action.(Local Legislators Tool Box)

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 c. Legislative Tracking and Analysis – refers to the process of monitoring
the implementation or enforcement of an ordinance or a resolution
enacted by the sanggunian, to determine its effectiveness or non-
effectiveness.

d. Local Legislation – is the power of the sanggunian to enact rules or

regulations which may be embodied in the form of an ordinance or a
resolution of local application and having the force and effect of law.

ARTICLE IV
Composition

Section 1. The Legislative Backstopping Committee of the Sangguniang

Bayan of Virac shall be composed of the following:

 Chairman: Municipal Vice-Mayor

 Vice-Chairman: Secretary to the Sanggunian

 Members: one (1) staff from the Secretary to the Sanggunian,

three (3) staffs from the Sangguniang Bayan, and two (2) staffs
from the Office of the Vice-Mayor.

 Support Group: one (1) staff from each regular member of the
sanggunian

ARTICLE V
Duties and Functions of the LBC

Section 1. The LBC has the following responsibilities:

a. Establish a management information system for legislative action or

decision;

b. Assist in the preparation of the local legislative agenda;

c. Conduct in-depth researches in aid of local legislation;

d. Provide liaisoning services between local executive departments and

the sanggunian, i.e., from legislative-initiation-approval-
implementation-evaluation;

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 e. Undertake tracking and analysis of enacted ordinances and resolutions,
and in the performance of which shall:

(1) Determine whether an enacted measure is actually implemented or

enforced by inquiring from the local government department or
office tasked to implement or enforce the same;

(2)In the case of an implemented or enforced measure, determine

whether the target population is familiar with said measure through
the conduct of field surveys or random interviews of affected
individuals;

(3)Assess the effectiveness of an implemented or enforced measure

through the conduct of dialogues with the target beneficiaries and
others involved in the implementation of the measure; and

(4)Prepare a report in the case of negative feedbacks; recommend

alternative options to the sanggunian

f. May assist in the review of ordinances and resolutions of lower level

sanggunian;

g. Perform other local legislative-related functions as may be assigned by

the Sanggunian or individual members, i.e., legislative staff
development, agenda preparation for sessions, technical assistance
during public hearings and committee meetings; and

h. May assist the ordinance codification project that may be initiated by

the Local Chief Executive or the Sanggunian.

ARTICLE VI
Funding

Section 1. The amount of __________________shall be appropriated as initial

fund of the committee.

Section 2. For the succeeding calendar year after the effectivity of this
ordinance, the Committee’s funding shall be allocated annually by the
municipality to defray its operating expenses.

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 ARTICLE VII
Separability Clause

Section 1. if, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this
ordinance shall be held invalid, the other parts or provisions shall remain
valid and effective.

ARTICLE VIII
Effectivity

Section 1. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon

approval.

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