TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN- The Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Office 02, headed by Regional Director Jonathan Paul M. Leusen, Jr., CESO III, successfully concluded its pilot run for Capacity Development of Local Sanggunians in the Exercise of their Quasi-Judicial Functions, completing its five (5) target municipalities and accommodating one request from the Municipality of Diffun, Quirino, covering a total of six (6) LGUs across the region.

Through its Bantay- Korapsyon Regional Operations Unit (BK-ROU) and notwithstanding the challenges that the pandemic brought, the regional office was able to virtually execute said activity to six LGUs’ namely, the Sangguniang Bayan Members of Sabtang, Batanes on April 07, 2021; Sangguniang Bayan Members of Aglipay, Quirino on May 14, 2021; Sangguniang Bayan Members of Sto. Nino, Cagayan on September 17, 2021; Sangguniang Bayan Members of Diffun, Quirino on September 24, 2021; Sangguniang Bayan Members of Angadanan, Isabela on October 04, 2021; and finally, to the Sangguniang Bayan Members of Dupax Del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya on October 18, 2021.

RD Leusen, in his message, emphasized the importance of capacitating the local sanggunian in order to effect the department’s goal of empowering the LGUs towards an accountable public service. ARD Elpidio A. Durwin, CESO IV, for the rationale of the activity, said that the capacity development is a great avenue for the Sanggunian to fully exercise and develop their quasi-judicial functions.

The BK-ROU discussed the general concept of quasi-judicial functions, overview on administrative investigations, and the basics of legal writing. The highlight of all sessions were the discussion on Internal Rules of Procedure which focuses on the rules followed by each sanggunian for the said target municipalities, and the Jurisdiction of the Local Sanggunian in their conduct of administrative proceedings.

In order to assist for the development of the Sangguniang Bayan Members’ in the exercise of their quasi-judicial functions, the BK-ROU conducted a mock trial for the local sanggunian by giving sample complaints subject for their resolution.

The DILG Region 02 will continue conducting said Capacity Development upon request of LGU’s across the region, abiding with its mission to capacitate and nurture local government units.

(Source: BK Legal Coordinator Dianne Hannaly B. Aquino)