I. LAW-MAKING PROCESS IN THE PHILIPPINES.

A. ENACTING A STATUTE Enactment of statute (laws) is the constitutional power of the Legislative branch of our government. The eg!" #t!ve $r#n%h !n% u&e" the Hou"e of Re're"ent#t!ve #n& the Sen#te. The S'e#(er of the Hou"e he#&" the Hou"e of Re're"ent#t!ve") *h! e the Sen#te Pre"!&ent he#&" the Sen#te. The fo o*!ng #re the 'ro%e"" of ho* # "t#tute !" $e!ng en#%te&. +. ,! !ng-C# en&#r!ng for ,!r"t Re#&!ng A bill is filed in the Office of the Secretary where it is given a corresponding number and calendared for First Reading .. ,!r"t Re#&!ng !ts title" bill number" and author#s name are read on the floor" after which it is referred to the proper committee /. Comm!ttee He#r!ng"-Re'ort $ommittee conducts hearings and consultation meetings !t then either approves the proposed bill without an amendment" approves it with changes" or recommends substitution or consolidation with similar bills filed 0. C# en&#r!ng for Se%on& Re#&!ng %he $ommittee Report with its approved bill version is submitted to the $ommittee on Rules for calendaring for Second Reading 1. Se%on& Re#&!ng &ill author delivers sponsorship s'ee%h on the f oor. Mem$er" of the A""em$ 2 eng#ge !n &e$#te) !nter'e #t!on) turno en %ontr#) #n& re$utt# to h!gh !ght the 'ro" #n& %on" of the $! . A 'er!o& of #men&ment" !n%or'or#te" ne%e""#r2 %h#nge" !n the $! 'ro'o"e& $2 the %omm!ttee or !ntro&u%e& $2 the Mem$er" of the A""em$ 2 them"e ve" on the f oor. 3. 4ot!ng on Se%on& Re#&!ng

'embers of the Assembly vote on the "e%on& re#&!ng ver"!on of the $! . If #''rove&) the $! !" %# en&#re& for th!r& re#&!ng. 5. 4ot!ng on Th!r& Re#&!ng (rinted copies of the bill#s final ver"!on #re &!"tr!$ute& to the Mem$er" of the A""em$ 2. Th!" t!me) on 2 the t!t e of the $! !" re#& on the f oor. Nom!n# vot!ng !" he &. If '#""e&) the #''rove& $! !" referre& to the other Hou"e for %on%urren%e. At the )ouse of Representatives %he other )ouse fo o*" the "#me 'ro%e&ure" 6,!r"t Re#&!ng) Se%on& Re#&!ng #n& Th!r& Re#&!ng7. !f the t*o ver"!on" #re %om'#t!$ e) the f!n# ver"!on8" enro e& form !" 'r!nte&. If there #re %ert#!n &!fferen%e") # 9!%#mer# Conferen%e Comm!ttee !" %# e& to re%on%! e %onf !%t!ng 'rov!"!on" of $oth ver"!on" of the Sen#te #n& of the Hou"e of Re're"ent#t!ve". Conferen%e %omm!ttee "u$m!t" re'ort on the re%on%! e& ver"!on of the $! ) &u 2 #''rove& $2 $oth %h#m$er". * Su$m!""!on to M# #%#:#ng Final enrolled form is submitted to 'alaca+ang %he (resident either signs it into law" or vetoes and sends it bac, to the Senate with veto message 9. ENACTING A LOCAL OR;INANCE Local legislation is performed by the Sanggunian (anlalawigan ((rovincial Level)" Sanggunian (anglungsod ($ity)" Sangunian (ambayan ('unicipal) and Sangguniang &arangay (&arangay) !t is headed by wither by the -ice./overnor or the -ice.'ayor %he following are the steps in enacting an ordinance in the level of Local /overnment 0nit Ph#"e +. Intro&u%t!on or S'on"or"h!' Step 1 A sanggunian member or group of members files the measure with the secretary in its draft form Step 2 %he secretary records the draft measure in a logboo, with the following information3

4ame of the author5authors %itle of the proposed ordinance or resolution 6ate filed" and %he number assigned to it

Step 7 %he title of the measure is read on first reading !f a measure is proposed by a committee and presented with a report" it need not go through first reading but is scheduled for second reading Step 8 %he presiding officer assigns the measure to a committee that will study it Ph#"e .. Comm!ttee ;e !$er#t!on #n& A%t!on Step 9 %he committee conducts a meeting and5or hearing to hear the arguments for and against the measure: members of government agencies and nongovernmental organi;ations can attend these Step < %he committee ta,es action by reporting out the measure %he committee action is either favorable or unfavorable !f favorable" report is submitted to the committee on rules which calendars the measure for second reading !f unfavorable" measure is laid on the table" the author or authors are given notice stating reasons for the action %o ensure that all measures are acted upon without delay" committees may be mandated by the internal rules to prepare a report whether action on a measure is favorable or unfavorable %his will ensure no measure is left unacted and build the civil society groups# trust in the sincerity and capacity of the sanggunian to address community issues and problems

Ph#"e /. S#nggun!#n ;e !$er#t!on" Step = %he measure is read in its entirety on second reading during a session Step * %he committee that studied the measure sponsors it on the floor by e>plaining the nature of the measure and recommending its approval by the body Step ? %he measure is sub@ected to debate and amendments Step 1A %he secretary prepares copies of the measure incorporating

the amendments and distributes these to the members at least three days before its third and final reading Ph#"e 0. Th!r& Re#&!ng #n& ,!n# 4ot!ng Step 11 %he measure is voted upon on third reading in the session A Buorum must be present before voting is ta,en %he number of those who voted for and against is recorded %he measure is deemed approved by the sanggunian %he secretary certifies the measure correct and the presiding officer signs it before it is transmitted to the L$E for approval

Ph#"e 1. A''rov# #n& Rev!e* Step 12 %he approved measure is presented to the L$E for action %he L$E may approve or veto the ordinance !f the L$E approves the measure" he5she affi>es his5her signature on each and every page of the measure !f it is vetoed by the L$E" the measure is returned to the sanggunian for reconsideration %he veto shall be communicated to the sanggunian within 19 days in the case of the province" and 1A days in the case of city or municipality: otherwise" the ordinance is deemed approved as if the L$E had signed it %he sanggunian may override the veto with a two thirds vote of its members ma,ing the ordinance or resolution legal and binding

Step 17 An approved ordinance or resolution goes to a higher level sanggunian for review An ordinance or resolution from a component city or municipality shall be reviewed by the provincial sanggunian three days after its approval An ordinance or resolution of a sangguniang barangay shall be submitted for review within 1A days after its enactment !f no action is ta,en by a higher.level sanggunian within 7A days after submission of an ordinance or resolution" it shall be deemed valid

Ph#"e 3. Pu$ !%#t!on #n& Effe%t!v!t2 Step 18 %he secretary shall order the posting of the ordinance or

resolution in a bulletin board at the entrance to the city or municipal hall or at the provincial capitol: and in at least two conspicuous places in the L/0 concerned not later than five days after its approval %he te>t of the ordinance or resolution shall be disseminated in (ilipino or English and in the (hilippine dialect understood by the ma@ority of the people 0nless otherwise stated in therein" the ordinance shall ta,e effect ten days from the date a copy of it is posted Ordinances with penal provisions shall be posted for a minimum of three consecutive wee,s" and published in a newspaper of general circulation within the territorial @urisdiction of the local government unit concerned e>cept in the case of barangay ordinances 0nless otherwise provided therein" the ordinance shall ta,e effect on the day following its publication" or at the end of the period of posting" whichever occurs later