TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN - On April 7, 2021, the DILG Regional Office 02 provided a capacity development intervention for local Sanggunians in the exercise of their quasi-judicial functions via Zoom - a first of its kind as it involved a simulation of possible administrative proceedings before the Sangguniang Bayan (SB).
With the influx of queries involving matters of quasi-judicial functions in the exercise of disciplinary authority of the local sanggunian, the Regional Office through the Legal Unit, conducted a regionwide virtual workshop for SB members starting off with the municipality of Sabtang, Batanes led by Vice Mayor Angel A. Candel, with the assistance of DILG Batanes headed by Provincial Director Engr. Maria Loida M. Urmatam.
RD Jonathan Paul M. Leusen, Jr., in his welcome remarks, highlighted the role of local government officials in addressing the pandemic saying that public servants must execute their duties even outside official work hours to not compromise their responsibilities. Moreover, Assistant Regional Director Elpidio A. Durwin stressed that the DILG will continue to assist local functionaries with their duties, in keeping with the Department values of matino, mahusay at maaasahan.
Through the Bantay Korapsyon Regional Coordinating Team (BK-RCT) that acted as facilitators and resource speakers, the Office focused to reinforce the knowledge and capacity of SB members in the exercise of their quasi-judicial functions—that is, their power to try, hear, and decide administrative cases filed before them. Emphasis was given on the jurisdiction of the Sangguniang Bayan and the applicable rules in terms of procedural matters.
It is expected that the DILG R2 will continue to conduct the virtual capacity development for local sanggunians in the provinces of Quirino, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Cagayan, as well as hold the 3rd Annual Continuing Legal Education which targets the Municipal Local Government Operations Officers (MLGOO) across the region.
The said activity is aligned with the Solid Government through Effective and Attainable Reforms (SOLID GEAR) banner of the DILG Region 2 and part of the Department’s mandate to strengthen and capacitate local government units. (SOURCE: BK Coordinator DIANNE HANNALY AQUINO)
