FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHlLiPPlNES 
I 
First Regular Session 
1 
03' ' S E N A T E  
S.B. NO. 
Introduced by Senator Francis N. Pangilinan 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, the State 
upholds that territorial and political subdivisions of the State shall enjoy genuine and meaningful local 
autonomy to enable them to attain their fullest development as self-reliant communities and make them 
more effective partners in the attainment of national goals. Further provided under R.A. No. 7160 is the 
creation of special bodies to assist the local government units (LGUs) in achieving the goals therein 
provided. Of the five special bodies, the Local Development Council (LDC) assumes the most important 
role and that is to assist the corresponding sanggunian in setting the direction in economics and social 
development, and to coordinate development efforts within sanggunian's territorial jurisdiction (Section 106, 
Local Government Code). Specifically, among the functions of LDC in the provincial, city and municipal 
levels are: (1) formulation of long-term, medium-term and annual socioeconomic development plans and 
policies; (2) formulation of the medium-term and annual public investment programs; and (3) appraisal and 
prioritizing socioeconomic development programs and projects. On the other hand, the LDC in the 
barangay level has the following functions, to wit: (1) mobilization of people's participation in local 
development efforts; (2) preparation of development plans based on local requirements; and (3) monitoring 
and evaluation of the implementation of national or local programs and projects. 
The creation of LDC encourages the participation of the non-governmental organizations (NGO) 
and people's organizations (PO) in government affairs. The participation of NGOs and POs assures 
effective governance and transparency in government. Their involvement in the affairs of the government is 
a true representation of the constituent's aspirations and needs as well. For this purpose, Article 6 of the 
Local Government Code Implementing Rules and Regulations (LGCIRR) has set procedures and 
guidelines for the selection and accreditation of representatives of people's organization, nongovernmental 
organizations in the local special bodies of LGU. 
Despite the noble objective in the creation of LDC and the laws, rules and regulations rationalizing 
its establishment , many LGUs have low NGO and PO participation in their development and economic 
planning as well as in its other Special Bodies. This is because local government executives do not strictly 
enforce Article 64 of the LGCIRR, "Procedures and Guidelines for the Selection of Representatives of 
People's Organization, Nongovernmental Organizations, or the Private Sector in Local Special Bodies". 
Likewise, NEDA reported that many local special bodies do not convene regularly, thus, NGO and PO 
participation in local governance is minimized. 
Since the present times are hard, it is opportune to accelerate economic and social growth and 
development at the regional and local levels through the coordinated efforts of national and local 
government officials. Moreso, the greater participation of the non-governmental organizations in the 
development planning process Is needed. Accordingly, there is a need to strengthen the Local 
Development Council. For this purpose, this bill seeks to amend R.A. No. 7160 to strengthen the power of 
the LDCs by compelling the local chief executives to convene and organize their respective LDCs. Under 
the proposed bill, LDC shall be mandated to meet four times in a year: January, June, September and 
December, or as often as may be necessary, To ensure its compliance, the leagues of LGUs are mandated 
to monitor and submit periodic reports to Congress, through the Oversight Committee on Local 


- 2 -  
Government. Further, to give teeth to the spirit of the law, the proposed bill seeks to punish any local chief 
executive who shall fail to convene accordingly the LDC in his territorial jurisdiction. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of the bill is earnestly sought 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
I 
First Regular Session 
I 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Francis N. Pangilinan 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL 
GOVENRMENT CODE OF 1991, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 106 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government 
Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 106. CREATlON OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS. - (a) Each 
local government unit shall have a comprehensive multi-sectoral development plan to be 
initiated by its development council approved by its sanggunian. For this purpose, the 
development council at the provincial, city, municipal, or barangay level, shall assist the 
corresponding sanggunian in setting the direction of economic and social development, 
and coordinating development efforts within its territorial jurisdiction. 
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES OF ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT SHALL 
CONVENE THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS WITHIN THRITY 
(30) DAYS FROM THEIR ASSUMPTION TO OFFICE. 
THE LEAGUE OF PROVINCES, LEAGUE OF CITIES, LEAGUE OF 
MUNICIPALITIES AND LlGA NG MGA BARANGAY SHALL MONITOR COMPLIANCE 
BY THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS WITH THIS SECTION AND 
SECTION 110 HEREOF. 
THE LEAGUES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS SHALL SUBMIT THEIR 
RESPECTIVE REPORTS TO CONGRESS, THROUGH THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE 
18 
ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITHIN SIXTY (60) DAYS FROM THE INITIAL 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
- 2 .  
CONVENING OF THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND EVERY JANUARY 
THEREAFTER." 
SEC. 2. Section 110 of the same Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 
110. Meetings and Quorum. - AFTER ITS INTIAL CONVENING, THE 
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SHALL MEET EVERY MARCH, JUNE, 
SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR, or as often as may be necessary." 
SEC. 3. A new section denominated as Section 51 I-A is hereby incorporated to read as follows: 
"SEC. 511-A. 
FAlLURE TO CONVENE THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCIL. - ANY LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE WHO SHALL FAIL TO CONVENE THE 
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL UNDER SECTIONS 106A AND 106 HEREOF 
WITHOUT VALID GROUNDS SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH SUSPENSION FROM 
OFFICE FOR A PERIOD OF THIRTY (30) DAYS. SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS SHALL 
BE PUNISHED WITH SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE FOR A PERIOD OF NINETY (90) 
DAYS." 
SEC. 4. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 5. If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or 
provisions thereof shall remain valid and effective. 
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general 
circulation. 
Approved,