Ang Gara ng Code! (Part 2)

Ang gara nga ba ng Code?  Can Sen. Sonny Angara make this happen during the 17th Congress as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government?  

As of this time, Sen. Angara has formed three (3) technical working groups (TWGs) to once again go through all the provisions in the Code that needs to be deleted, changed, or even new stipulations or innovative reforms.  Presently, although there is no omnibus bill filed yet, there are at least 25 bills filed in the Senate amending the Code. At the lower House, there are even more and we hope that Angara’s counterpart, Rep. Pedro Acharon, Jr. will equally take the lead to ensure the reforms that will redound to the strengthening of our LGUs.  We would rather have an omnibus amendment rather than by piecemeal for a comprehensive change to happen.

Although we have done these series of Codal reviews from all the previous Congresses!    In 2015, a comprehensive and extensive review1 was done led by DILG with the proposed amendments vetted with the leagues and LGUs and all stakeholders. 

Of course, the Leagues are very grateful to the late Congressman Larry de Pedro together with the formidable Senator Nene Pimentel.  But at that time, of course it was a grand Code – better than a dictatorship! But after 25 years, we need reforms fast because of the changing times and new socio-political developments happening worldwide.

What the Leagues and LGUs need now is a dedicated champion who can have these reforms finally approved.   Someone who can lead the pack and send a strong message to the national leaders that LGUs can truly stand on their own and be directly accountable to the people with minimal supervision from them.  Someone to make it happen so we can truly say, “Ang gara ng Code!” 

¹_{(See this link for the full Report on the Review of the 1991 Local Government Code: (http://www.dilg.gov.ph/PDF_File/reports_resources/dilg-reports-resources-2016223_df7fdb9ab9.pdf )}

About the Author

Sandra Tablan Paredes is presently the Executive Director of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) since October, 2016 although she previously served LPP as Director from 1997 to 2004 Sandy helped organize ULAP in 1998 with former Governor Joey Lina and advocated for the LGUs' rightful IRA share, among other league advocacies, programs and projects to help local officials ensure local and fiscal autonomy and good governance. Recently served as concurrent interim Executive Director of ULAP from Jan-March 31, 2017. You can email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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