Labor leaders says local representation law ineffective

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) secretary-general, Wennie Sancho, stated that Republic Act 7160, known as the Local Government Code of 1991, which provides for Local Sectoral Representation under Section 41(c), has become a “dead letter law.”

Sancho explained that a “dead letter law” refers to legislation that has not been repealed but is ineffective or defunct in practice.

On Wednesday, Sancho highlighted that local sectoral representation is one of the most significant democratic provisions in the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code.

However, nearly 33 years after its enactment, Congress has yet to pass an “enabling law” to facilitate elections for local sectoral representatives in the Sanggunians.

“Simply put, it is something that has lost its force or authority without being formally abolished,” Sancho remarked.

He further emphasized that while signing the law is one thing, implementing it is another.

Sancho cited Section 41(c) of the Local Government Code, which states: “In addition thereto, there shall be one (1) representative from the women, one (1) representative from the workers, and one (1) from any of the following sectors: the urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, disabled persons, and elderly or any other sector as may be determined by the Sanggunian concerned, within ninety (90) days prior to the holding of the next local elections, as may be provided by law.”

Moreover, Article X, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution mandates that legislative bodies of local government shall have sectoral representatives as may be provided by law. This aims to enhance greater participation and representation by the people in policymaking at the local government level.

“However, this constitutional and statutory provision has not been implemented until now,” Sancho said.

“This is an injustice to civil societies and people’s organizations that represent the interests of the poor, the needy, and the oppressed,” he added.

Sancho questioned whether the delay of more than three decades in passing an enabling law was a deliberate act by legislators.

He contended that many representatives in Congress, who are supposed to serve the people, “are looking the other way while our rights to local sectoral representation are being trampled upon, and the voice of the people is suppressed.”