Functions and Powers of Your Public Officials

Compiled by the Web Staff

Congress (Senate, House of Representatives, Party-lists)

1. to create new laws and amend or repeal old ones
2. to amend the Constitution by convening as a Constitutional Assembly
3. to propose the annual national budget, as well as taxes and other measures to generate revenue
4. to conduct investigations in aid of legislation
5. for Senators, to attend to the needs of the entire Philippine population
6. for members of the House of Representatives, to attend to the needs of the people in their respective congressional districts
7. for the party-list representatives, to familiarize the electorate with the platforms and programs for the marginalized sectors of society

Provincial Governor

1. to exercise general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services and activities of the provincial government including:

initiating and proposing legislative measures to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,

representing the province in all its business transactions,

determining the time, manner and place of payment of salaries or wages of the officials and employees of the province,

visiting component cities and municipalities of the province at least once every 6 months, and

authorizing payment for medical cares, necessary transportation, subsistence, hospital or medical fees of provincial officials and employees.

2. a) to enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the province,

b) to enforce the exercise of the appropriate corporate powers, and

c) to implement all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities of the province such as:

calling conventions, conferences, seminars or meetings of all officials of the province,

formulating the peace and order plan of the province including its implementation upon approval, and

calling upon the appropriate national law enforcement agencies to suppress disorder, riot, lawless violence, rebellion or sedition or to apprehend violators of the law.

3. to initiate and maximize the generation of resources and revenues particularly those programmed for agro-industrial development and country-wide growth and progress

4. to ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities

Provincial Vice-Governor

1. to be the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and to sign all warrants drawn on the provincial treasury for all the expenditures appropriated for the operation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan

2. to subject to civil service law and rules and regulations as well as to appoint all officials and employees of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan

3. to assume the office of the governor for the unexpired term of the latter in the event of permanent vacancy

4. to exercise the powers and to perform the duties and functions of the governor in cases of temporary vacancy

Mayor

1. to hold office in the city hall during his incumbency
2. to exercise general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services, and activities of the provincial government (e.g., determining guidelines, directing the formulation of plans, proposing laws, directing programs, appoint officials and employees, carry out emergency measures, etc. )

a. to work closely with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan

b. to be responsible for determining the salaries of the city’s officials, as well as allocating and assigning their offices, ensuring that they faithfully discharge their duties with respect to the law, examining their books, records, and documents and authorizing their official trips outside the city,

c. to work closely with the barangay officials and to make it a point to visit the barangays in the city at least once every six months in order to understand their problems and present conditions,

d. to authorize payment for medical care and for other fees of the city officials and employees if they are injured while in the performance of their official duties (subject to the availability of funds

3. to enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the city and in the exercise of the appropriate corporate powers and implementation of all policies, projects, etc.

a. to ensure that the acts of the city’s barangay officials are done accordingly,

b. to call conventions, meetings, seminars in order to discuss the city’s current condition,

c. to issue orders for the appropriate enforcement and execution of laws and ordinances,

d. to act as a representative of the National Police Commission, formulating peace and order in the realm of the city by calling upon enforcement agencies in case riots break out, etc.

4. to initiate and maximize resources and revenues, as well as the implementation of development plans, program objectives and priorities as provided for the agro-industrial development and countryside
5. to ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities

Vice-Mayor

1. to be the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and to sign all warrants drawn on the city treasury
2. to be subject to civil service law, rules, and regulations and to appoint all officials and employees of the Sangguniang Panlungsod
3. to exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the city mayor in cases of temporary vacancy

Councilor

1. to enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants as member of the legislative body of the city, the Sangguniang Panlungsod

2. to approve ordinances and pass resolutions necessary for an efficient and effective city government

3. to generate and maximize the use of resources and revenues for the development plans, program objectives and priorities of the city with particular attention to agro-industrial development of city-wide growth and progress

4. to enact ordinances granting franchises and authorizing the issuance of permits or licenses, upon such conditions and for such purposes intended to promote the general welfare of the inhabitants of the city

5. to regulate activities relative to the use of land, buildings and structures within the city in order to promote general welfare

6. to approve ordinances which shall ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the basic services and facilities

Sources:

Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan. “Powers, Duties and Functions of your Local Government Officials: An Overview” (http://simbahanglingkod.multiply.com/journal/item/27)

Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan. “Know more about the party-list system.” (http://simbahanglingkod.multiply.com/journal/item/30)

Republic Act No. 7160

“Deciding tomorrow’s leaders”. The GUIDON. March 2007. p. 9.