People's Participation in the Local Legislation Process: Recent Experiences in Cagayan de Oro City

Abstract

This paper presents the recent experiences in the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cagayan de Oro insofar as the participation of civil society in the local legislation process is concerned. It is common knowledge that under RA 7160, popularly known as the Local Government Code of 1991, the Sangguniang Panlungsod is tasked to enact ordinances that are responsive to the needs of the times. Until quite recently, the public had never had a wider opportunity in the local legislation process. The public used to be passive participants until such phenomena as people empowerment, participatory democracy and private-public partnerships have become a popular mantra in local policy making. Recently, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cagayan de Oro received at least two proposals. The first proposal came from a group of law students requesting the local legislature to enact an ordinance requiring tree planting as a condition for the issuance of building permits.The second proposal came from a group of young college students requesting the Sanggunian to enact an ordinance providing for the magna carta of students’ rights and welfare of Cagayan de Oro. Considering the fact that these two proposals come from the students sector, young as they are, it is interesting to note that the theory of people’s participation in the local legislation process is gaining foothold as far as the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Cagayan de Oro is concerned. It is, indeed, a healthy sign of democracy in action.