Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Sangguniang Panlungsod

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ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, Sangguniang Kabataan, Sangguniang Bayan

The Sangguniang Panlungsod are the legislatures of city governments in the Philippines. As defined by the Local Government Code of 1991, the legislatures have legislative and quasi-judicial powers and functions. The members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, often referred to as councilors are either elected or ex-officio and includes a city's vice mayor who serves as the presiding officer.

Contents

The term was coined from the Tagalog words "sanggunian" and "lungsod" which means "city council".

Powers, duties, and functions

The Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the legislative body of the city, is mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991 to:

  • Approve ordinances and resolutions
  • Generate and maximize the use of resources and revenues for the development plans, program objectives and priorities of the city
  • Enact ordinances granting franchises and authorizing the issuance of permits or licenses, subject to the provisions of Book II of the Local Government Code of 1991,
  • Regulate activities relative to the use of land, buildings and structures within the city
  • Approve ordinances which shall ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the basic services and facilities as provided for under Section 17 of the Local Government Code
  • Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance

    • Presiding officer

    The city vice mayor serves as the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. In the absence of the vice mayor, a temporary presiding officer is assigned by the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod from among themselves.

    Members

    The number of elected councilors a city's Sangguniang Panlungsod is composed of is prescribed in its charter. In absence of such a provision, it is then composed of ten elected councilors; on the other hand, if the city also corresponds to a legislative district, it then elects twelve. Some cities also elect their councilors by districts which may also be provided in its charter. In general, cities which are composed of at least two legislative districts, equally divide its elected council seats among its districts.

    Of all the cities, Manila and Quezon City have the most number of elected councilors with 36 each, followed by Davao with 24.

    Similar to the Sangguniang Bayan of municipalities in the Philippines, the Sangguniang Panlungsod also allocates a council seat to the city chairmen of the Liga ng mga Barangay, Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan and the IP Representative.

    References

    Sangguniang Panlungsod Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA