HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

The following sections are excerpted from Philippine Local Government Code of 1991.  I pray that these sections be carefully observed and complied by our Local Government especially the basic services enumerated therein.  Let God touch the hearts and minds of our local officials to be more conscientious on their oath to love God and to do their duties and functions within their territorial jurisdiction, in accordance to the basic principle of this Code. 

We have to realize that we can only work effectively if we might go back to the basic issues wherein the source of power of our Local Government resides, and it is from this Code that we can also quote and give sometimes our adverse comments that they cannot oppose against it.   However, as inhabitants of the land, we have also our duties and moral obligations, such as to support them by following ordinances they are implementing for the general welfare.

Please note that every year, we have a new beginning as the earth makes one complete revolution around the sun during that one-year period. Then it starts all over again. God put this principle of "starting over" in the earth. If you have a bad crop one year, you can start over and plant a new crop this year! Each year brings a new harvest.  The same principle we could apply to it.

For our understanding and sort of discussion, I encourage everyone to read and cast your remarks about these selected sections for our LGU’s reflection:  

SECTION 15. Political and Corporate Nature of Local Government Units. - Every local government unit created or recognized under this Code is a body politic and corporate endowed with powers to be exercised by it in conformity with law. As such, it shall exercise powers as a political subdivision of the national government and as a corporate entity representing the inhabitants of its territory.

SECTION 16. General Welfare. - Every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied there from, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare. Within their respective territorial jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support, among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants. 

SECTION 17. Basic Services and Facilities.

(a) Local government units shall endeavor to be self-reliant and shall continue exercising the powers and discharging the duties and functions currently vested upon them. They shall also discharge the functions and responsibilities of national agencies and offices devolved to them pursuant to this Code. Local government units shall likewise exercise such other powers and discharge such other functions and responsibilities as are necessary, appropriate, or incidental to efficient and effective provision of the basic services and facilities enumerated herein.

(b) Such basic services and facilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 

                        (1) For a Barangay: 

 (i) Agricultural support services which include planting materials distribution system and operation of farm produce collection and buying stations;

(ii) Health and social welfare services which include maintenance of Barangay health center and day-care center;

(iii) Services and facilities related to general hygiene and sanitation, beautification, and solid waste collection;

(iv) Maintenance of Katarungang Pambarangay; 

(v) Maintenance of Barangay roads and bridges and water supply systems

(vi) Infrastructure facilities such as multi-purpose hall, multipurpose pavement, plaza, sports center, and other similar facilities;

(vii) Information and reading center; and 

(viii) Satellite or public market, where viable;

 (2) For a municipality: 

 (i) Extension and on-site research services and facilities related to agriculture and fishery activities which include dispersal of livestock and  poultry, fingerlings, and other seeding materials for aquaculture; palay, corn, and vegetable seed farms; medicinal plant gardens; fruit tree, coconut, and other kinds of seedling nurseries; demonstration farms; quality control of copra and improvement and development of local distribution channels, preferably through cooperatives; inter-Barangay irrigation system; water and soil resource utilization and conservation projects; and enforcement of fishery laws in municipal waters including the conservation of mangroves;

(ii) Pursuant to national policies and subject to supervision, control and review of the DENR, implementation of community-based forestry projects which include integrated social forestry programs and similar projects; management and control of communal forests with an area not exceeding fifty (50) square kilometers; establishment of tree parks, greenbelts, and similar forest development projects;

(iii) Subject to the provisions of Title Five, Book I of this Code, health services which include the implementation of programs and projects on primary health care, maternal and child care, and communicable and non-communicable disease control services; access to secondary and tertiary health services; purchase of medicines, medical supplies, and equipment needed to carry out the services herein enumerated;

(iv) Social welfare services which include programs and projects on child and youth welfare, family and community welfare, women's welfare, welfare of the elderly and disabled persons; community-based rehabilitation programs for vagrants, beggars, street children, scavengers, juvenile delinquents, and victims of drug abuse; livelihood and other pro-poor projects; nutrition services; and family planning services;

(v) Information services which include investments and job placement information systems, tax and marketing information systems, and maintenance of a public library;

(vi) Solid waste disposal system or environmental management system and services or facilities related to general hygiene and sanitation;

(vii) Municipal buildings, cultural centers, public parks including freedom parks, playgrounds, and sports facilities and equipment, and other similar facilities;

(viii) Infrastructure facilities intended primarily to service the needs of the residents of the municipality and which are funded out of municipal funds including, but not limited to, municipal roads and bridges; school buildings and other facilities for public elementary and secondary schools; clinics, health centers and other health facilities necessary to carry out health services; communal irrigation, small water impounding projects and other similar projects; fish ports; artesian wells, spring development,  rainwater collectors and water supply systems; seawalls, dikes, drainage and sewerage, and flood control; traffic signals and road signs; and  similar facilities;

(ix) Public markets, slaughterhouses and other municipal enterprises;

(x) Public cemetery; 

(xi) Tourism facilities and other tourist attractions, including the acquisition of equipment, regulation and supervision of business concessions, and security services for such facilities; and

(xii) Sites for police and fire stations and substations and the municipal jail;