Senate Bill No. 1250 
Introduced bv Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN 
EXPLANATORY NO JE 
Local 
sectoral 
representation 
is 
one 
of 
the 
most 
significant 
democratization provisions in the 1987 Constitution as well as in the 1991 Local 
Government Code. 
It allows representatives from local sectoral groups 
especially those belonging to the marginalized to be elected as members of the 
local sanggunians and participate in local legislation or policy-making process. It 
intends to expand the composition of local sanggunians by democratizing 
electoral and political opportunities in consonance with the social justice 
provisions of the Constitution. By allowing the people to choose their sectoral 
organizations, the representation of the marginalized sectors in the local 
sanggunians will be ensured. 
Section 9, Art. X of the 1987 Constitution states that “legislative bodies of 
local governments shall have sectoral representation as may be prescribed by 
law.” Section 41 (c) of R.A. No. 7160 or the Local Government Code, on the 
other hand, states that ”...there shall be one (1) sectoral representative from the 
women, one (1) from the workers, and one (1) from any of the following sectors: 
the urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, disabled persons, or any other 
sector as may be determined by the sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) 
days prior to the holding of the next local elections as may be provided for by 
law.” It also states that COMELEC shall promulgate the rules and regulations to 
effectively provide for the election of such sectoral representatives. 
While previous attempts were made by the COMELEC to set the date and 
call the first elections for sectoral representatives through various resolutions 
(Resolution Nos. 2515 and 2753 - calling for special elections in 1993; 
Resolution Nos. 2753 - where elections for sectoral representatives would 
coincide with the 1995 national and local elections), no elections to date has 
been conducted. 
In 1995, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 7887 which instituted certain 
electoral reforms. 
The last paragraph of Sec. 1 thereof states that the 
“COMELEC shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectively implement the 
provisions of law which may hereafter be enacted providing for the election of 
sectoral representatives.” This provision apparently strengthened COMELEC’s 
position not to push through with the planned elections in deference to Congress. 
Six years after, Congress has yet to pass an enabling law that will pave 
the way for the conduct of elections for local sectoral representatives. The 
constitutional and statutory mandate for such elections has not been 
implemented simply because of the absence of an enabling law that will provide 


for the manner and date of election of sectoral representatives to the local 
sanggunians. 
The bill if enacted to into law will serve as the enabling law for the 
unimplemented 
constitutional 
and 
statutory 
policy 
on 
local 
sectoral 
representation. 
The salient features of the bill includes: (a) election of (3) 
sectoral representatives each in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang 
Bayan and Sangguniang Panlungsod - (one (1) from the women sector, one (1) 
from the workers, and one (1) from any of the following sectors: the urban poor, 
indigenous cultural communities, disabled persons and elderly; (b) the first 
election will be on the second Monday of May 2004 and every three years 
thereafter; (c) requirement of registration of sectoral organizationskoalitions to 
qualify in elections; (d) qualifications of sectoral nominees; (e) forfeiture of seat 
by any elected sectoral representative who changes his organizational affiliation 
during his term of office; and (f) conduct of voter's education. 
For the past ten years since the enactment of the Local Government 
Code, there has been a marked increase in interest by civil society in local 
governance. This augurs well in instilling greater accountability in governance, 
but also in promoting innovative governance in partnership with an empowered 
civil society. The implementation of local sectoral representation is an important 
institutional mechanism for attaining this objective. 
Hence, the approval of the bill is most earnestly sought. 
---ikq 
ANGlLlNAN 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
,, _r 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
1;7 
.j!J[. 18 ,;, .ii8 
First Regular Session 
1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
nv :_.“.I 
SENATE 
SENATE BILL No.1.250 
Introduced by SENATOR FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MANNER AND DATE OF ELECTION OF 
SECTORAL REPRESENTATIVES TO THE LOCAL SANGGUNIANS AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Title. - 
This Act shall be known as the “Local Secforal 
Represenfafion Acf of 2007” 
SEC. 2. Declarafion of State Policy. - It is the policy of the State to have sectoral 
representatives to legislative bodies of local governments and to uphold the right of the 
people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of 
social, political and economic decision-making. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
(a) 
“Workers” may either be industrial, commercial, or service workers, 
peasants, farmers or fisherfolk; 
“Sectoral organization” refers to a group of citizens belonging to 
any of the sectors enumerated in Section 4 hereof which are 
bound together by a common vision or purpose and an internal 
structure of accountability to the membership; 
(b) 
(c) 
“Coalition” refers to an aggrupation of duly registered sectoral 
organizations enumerated in Section 4 herein for political andlor 
election purposes; 
(d) 
“Commission” shall refer to the Commission on Elections. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
I 1  
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
SEC. 4. Election of Sectoral Representatives. - There shall be three (3) sectoral 
representatives each in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Bayan and 
Sangguniang Panlungsod who shall be elected pursuant to this Act: one (1) from the 
women sector; one (1) from the workers; and one (1) from any of the following sectors: 
urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, disabled persons and elderly, which may 
be determined by the sanggunian concerned not later than one (1) year prior to the 
holding of the next local elections: Provided that, in the case of the Sangguniang 
Panlalawigan, any of the sub-sectors of the workers may be considered as the second 
and third sector; Provided furfherfhat, the total number of elective positions in the local 
sanggunians shall not exceed the number of seats prescribed by law except in 
provinces, and in cities where sanggunian members are elected per district as provided 
by law. 
The third sector already determined shall remain in force unless the sanggunian 
concerned determines a new sector. In the event that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, 
Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Panlungsod fails to determine the third sector in 
the first local sectoral elections, the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
(DILG) shall determine the third sector. 
SEC. 5. Date of Election. - The first election for sectoral representatives in the 
sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang bayan and sangguniang panlungsod shall be 
held simultaneously with the local elections on the second Monday of May 2004 and 
every three (3) years thereafter. 
SEC. 6. 
Manifestation to Participate in the Elections. - Any sectoral 
organization or coalition already registered with the Commission on Elections need not 
register anew. However, such organization may file with the Commission, not later than 
one hundred twenty (120) days before every election, a manifestation of its desire to 
participate in the elections for sectoral Representative: Provided fhaf, a coalition may 
run only for one and the same sector in a province, city or municipality; Provided further 
that, no member organization of the coalition which has manifested its desire to 
participate in the elections shall be eligible to run. 
2 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
SEC. 7. Registration. -Any Sectoral organization or coalition which has been in 
existence for at least one (1) year, duly registered with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC), or the Department of Labor and Employment, or with government 
agencies concerned, or with the local government units concerned, and with a 
membership of not less than twenty five (25) registered voters within the municipality or 
city where it seeks to be a candidate, may file with the Commission, not later than one 
hundred eighty (180) days before the election, a petition verified by its president or 
secretary stating its desire to participate in the election for sectoral representative, 
attaching thereto its constitution, by-laws, platform or program of government, list of 
officers, coalition agreement, if any and other relevant information as the Commission 
may require. 
Failure to submit the aforecited formal requirements may be a ground for 
dismissal, motu propio, by the Commission on Elections of its petition; otherwise, the 
Commission shall immediately post the verified petition in the office of the election 
officer and in the bulletin board of the provincial, city or municipal hall setting the same 
for hearing at an appointed time and date. 
The Commission shall, after due notice and hearing, resolve said petition, 
including a motion for its reconsideration, within thirty (30) days from the date of its 
submission for resolution, but in no case later than one hundred twenty (120) days 
before election. 
The provincial, city or municipal chapters of registered provincial, regional or 
national sectoral organization or coalitions shall be deemed registered: Provided that, 
the local chapters shall notify and submit proof of chapter affiliation and registration of 
such provincial, regional or national sectoral organization or coalition to the provincial, 
city or municipal Election Officer; Provided further that, provincial, regional and national 
sectoral organizations or coalitions shall have chapters in at least twenty five percent 
(25%) of the total number of municipalities or cities of a province where it seeks to be a 
candidate for sanggunian panlalawigan; Pro\/ide fina//y that, each chapter shall have a 
membership of not less than twenty five (25) voters. 
3 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
SEC. 8. Refusal or Cancellation of Registration. - The Commission may, motu 
propio, or upon verified complaint of any interested party, refuse or cancel, after due 
notice and hearing, the registration of any sectoral organization or coalition on any of 
the following grounds: 
It is a religious sect or denomination, organization or association 
organized solely for religious purposes; 
It advocates violence or unlawful means to seek its goal; 
It is a foreign organization; 
It is receiving support from any foreign government, foreign political party, 
foundation, organization, whether directly or through any of its officers or 
members or indirectly through third parties for partisan election purposes; 
It violates or fails to comply with laws, rules and regulations relating to 
elections; 
It declares untruthful statements in its petition; 
It was dissolved, absorbed by or merged with other sectoral organizations; 
and 
It failed to participate in the last two (2) consecutive elections. 
SEC. 9. Certified List of Registered Sectoral Organizations and Coalitions. - The 
Commission shall, not later than sixty (60) days before election, prepare a certified list 
of sectoral organizations and coalitions which have applied or manifested their desire to 
participate in the election of sectoral representatives to the local sanggunians and 
distribute copies thereof to all precints for posting in the polling places in election day. 
The names the nominees shall not be shown on the certified list. 
SEC. I O .  Nomination of Sectoral Representatives. Each registered sectoral 
organization or coalition shall submit to the Commission not later than forty-five (45) 
days before the election a list of three (3) names ranked as first nominee, second 
nominee and third nominee. 
A person may be nominated in one (1) list only. Only persons who have given 
their consent in writing may be named in the list. The list shall not include any 
4 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
SEC. 11. Qualifications of Sectoral Nominees. - No person may be nominated 
7 
candidate for any elective office or any person who has lost his bid for an elective office 
other than sectoral representatives in the immediately preceding election. No change of 
names or alteration of the order of nominees shall be allowed after same shall have 
been submitted to the Commission except in cases where the nominee dies, or 
withdraws in writing his nomination, or become incapacitated. 
as sectoral representative unless he is: 
A citizen of the Philippines; 
A registered voter in the city or municipality where he intends to be 
elected; 
A resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day 
of election; 
Able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect; 
At least twenty three (23) years of age on election day; and 
A bona-fide member of the registered sectoral organization or coalition, 
which he seeks to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding the 
day of election. 
18 
19 
SEC. 12. Disqualifications of Sectoral Nominees. - The following are disqualified 
as nominee for sectoral representatives: 
Those sentenced by final judgment for an offense involving moral 
turpitude or for an offense punishable by one (I) 
year or more of 
imprisonment, within two (2) years after serving sentence; 
Those removed from office as a result of an administrative case; 
Those convicted by final judgment for violating the oath of allegiance to 
the Republic of the Philippines; 
Those with dual citizenship or with dual allegiance; 
Fugitives from justice in a criminal or non-political case here or abroad; 
Permanent residents in a foreign country or those who have acquired the 
right to reside abroad and continue to avail of said right; and 
5 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
(9) 
Insane persons declared as such by competent authority unless 
subsequently declared by competent authority that such persons are no 
longer insane. 
SEC. 13. Nominees Holding Appoinfeive Office. - Any person holding public 
appointive office or position, including active members of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and other law enforcement agencies and 
officers and employees in government owned and controlled corporation shall be 
considered ipso facto resigned from his office upon the submission of his name as 
nominee of a sectoral organization or coalition with the Commission. 
SEC. 14. Manner of Voting. - Every voter shall be entitled to a vote for each of 
the positions reserved for the sectoral representatives in the local sanggunians: 
Provided that, a vote cast for a sectoral organization or coalition not entitled to be voted 
upon shall not be counted. 
SEC. 15. Term of Oftice. - The term of office of sectoral representatives shall 
be co-extensive with the term of the individually elected members of the sanggunian. 
Provided fhaf, if the sectoral organization or coalition that they represent would be 
dissolved, the position they are holding shall be deemed vacant. 
SEC. 16. Change of Affi/iafion Effect. - Any elected sectoral representative who 
changes his organizational affiliation during his term of office shall forfeit his seat: 
Provided fhaf, if he changes his organizational affiliation within six (6) months before the 
election, he shall not be eligible for nomination as sectoral representative under his new 
sectoral organization or coalition. 
SEC. 17. Vacancy. - In case of permanent vacancy in the seats reserved for 
sectoral representatives, the vacancy shall be automatically filled by the next nominee 
from the list of nominees in the order submitted to the Commission who shall serve the 
unexpired term, If the list is exhausted, the sectoral organization or coalition concerned 
shall submit additional nominees. 
6 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
SEC. 18. Rights of Sectoral Represenfatives.- Sectoral representatives shall be 
entitled to the same salaries, emoluments, rights, privileges and benefits as non- 
sectoral representatives of the local sanggunians. 
SEC. 19. Voter’s Education. - The Commission, together with an in support of 
accredited citizen’s arm shall carry out a continuing and systematic campaign through 
newspapers of general circulation, ratio and other media forms, as well as through 
seminars, symposia, for a and other non-traditional means to educate the public and 
fully inform the electorate about the election of sectoral representatives to the local 
sanggunians. 
SEC. 20. Designation of Other Dates For a Certain Pre-Election Acts. - If it shall 
no longer be reasonably possible to observe the periods and dates prescribed by law 
for certain pre-election acts, the Commission shall fix other periods and dates in order 
to ensure the accomplishment of election activities so voters shall not be deprived of 
their right of suffrage. 
SEC. 21. 
Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on Elections shall 
promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act. 
SEC. 22. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of this 
Act, shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which 
are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. - Section 41 paragraphs (b) and (c) of Republic Act 
No. 7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991 ,” as amended, is 
hereby repealed. All laws, pertinent decrees, executive orders in whole or in part, 
including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 24. Bfecfivify. - This Act shall take effect immediately upon approval. 
Approved,