THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
’04 JUL -7 
PI ::4 
Introduced by Senator Pangilinan 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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 sunggunians 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 LGC, 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 e[ection 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 
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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 organizations/coalitions 
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 i s  most earnestly sought. 
2 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
’Cid 
.iiK -7 
13 1 :34 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
1 
Introduced By Senator 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 the House of Representatives in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION, T .  
Tif[e - This Act shall be known as the “Local Sectoral 
Representation Act of 2001 .” 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of 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; 
“Coalition” refers to an aggrupation of duly registered sectoral 
organizations enumerated in Section 4 herein for political and/or 
election purposes; 
“Commission” shall refer to the Commission on Elections 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
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 further that, 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. 
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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 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 i t s  desire to participate in the elections for 
sectoral representative: Provided that, 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 i t s  desire to 
participate in the elections shall be eligible to run. 
SEC. 7. hegistration.- 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 i t s  president or secretary stating i t s  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 i t s  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 i t s  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; Provided finally that, 
each chapter shall have a membership of not less than twenty five (25) voters. 
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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 i t s  goal; 
It is a foreign organization; 
It i s  receiving support from any foreign government, foreign 
political party, foundation, organization, whether directly or 
through any of i t s  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 i t s  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 precincts for posting in the polling places in election day. The names of 
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 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 becomes incapacitated. 
SEC. 11. 
Qualifications of Sectoral Nomineex- 
No person may be 
nominated as sectoral representative unless he is: 
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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. 
SEC. 12. 
Disqualifications of SectoraI 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 (1) 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 
a broad; 
Permanent residents in a foreign country or those who have 
acquired the right to reside abroad and continue to avail of said 
right; and 
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 Appointive Office. - Any person holding 
public appointive office or position, including active members of the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Potice, and other law 
enforcement agencies and officers and employees in government owned and 
controlled corporations 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. 
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SEC. 15. Term of Office.- The term of office of sectoral representatives 
shall be co-extensive with the term of the individually elected members of the 
sanggunian. Provided that, 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 Affiliation 
Effect.- 
Any elected sectoral 
representative who changes his organizational affiliation during his term of 
office shall forfeit his seat: Provided that, 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 shatl be automatically filted by the 
next nominee from the list of nominees in the order submitted to the 
Commission who shall serve the unexpired term. If the l i s t  i s  exhausted, the 
sectoral organization or coalition concerned shall submit additional nominees. 
SEC. 18. Rights of Sectoral Representatives. - 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 arms shall carry out a continuing and systematic 
campaign through newspapers of general circulation, radio and other media 
forms, as well as through seminars, symposia, fora 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 Certuin 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. 21.1 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. 
Effectivity.- 
This Act shall take effect immediately upon 
Approved, 
approval. 
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