agrarian reform, rural development, local governance, Philippines

Marginalized sectors continuous to be under represented in the current set up of our government despite provisions in the Constitution and the Local Government Code. We speak here of the women, laborers, farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples, differently-abled persons, senior citizens, children and the urban poor sectors.

Farmers says no to mining in Calatagan

It has been twenty three years since the ratification of the 1987 Constitution and subsequently nineteen years after the passage of the Local Government Code of 1991 and yet the Local Sectoral Representatives have not taken up their seats in the local sanggunians.

It was only in the 12th Congress that House Bill No. 5781, An Act Providing for the Manner and Date of Election of Sectoral Representatives in the Local Sanggunians and for other purpose" was passed in the Lower House. The same bill was filed in the Senate but no Committee Hearing was held on this matter despite avid support from different government agencies, the leagues and civil society organizations.

Currently, there are several bills on local sectoral representation which are filed in House of Representatives. These are filed by Akbayan! Representative Risa Hontiveros and Rep. Del de Guzman.

In the Senate, LSR bills are filed by Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Mirian Defensor Santiago.

The LSR is a system that ensures the participation of marginalized sectors in the local decision-making processes. It is the local equivalent of the party list system where different sectors will be represented in the legislative bodies such as the sangguniang bayan, sangguniang panlunsod and sangguniang panlalawigan. Like the party list elections, instead of electing individual candidates to seat in the local sanggunian, voters will elect sectoral organizations that work for and represent the marginalized sectors.

LSR is part of the democratization provision of the Local Government Code that aims to open up avenues for participation and citizen's participation in the decision making processes. Unlike the participation open for NGOs and POs in the local special bodies, the sectoral representatives will be decision-makers and not merely a recommendatory body. Marginalized sectors will have a greater say in the kind of development that the local government units will pursue and thus programs and projects will definitely reflect and address the sectoral concerns of the marginalized groups.

Task-Force LSR is a loose coalition composed of non-government organizations, people's organizations, national line agencies and individuals united to push for the passage of the Local Sectoral Representation, which is a major provision on people participation in the LGC providing for three sectoral representatives in local legislative councils. It is a campaign center involved in lobby, networking, information and education and media work.

With the growing interest of basic sectors and public agencies like the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) in pushing for the bill as part of their sectoral agenda, there arose a need to put together, if not harmonize, various efforts of civil society networks on LSR. This is help to maximize resources, effectively bring the advocacy to the attention of national and local policy-makers, and coordinate advocacy and campaign activities among grassroots constituents. Task Force LSR was formed in 2003 to ensure that the sectoral and people's organization will be the main movers of the campaign.

LSR Legislative Timeline

• CARP Extension

• Sign and circulate the petition
• Write to your Congresspersons. Have him/ her sign the covenant to work for the passage of LSR.
• Ask your local sanggunian to pass a resolution/ ordinance calling for the immediate passage of LSR
• Educate other on the importance of LSR