Role of Civil Society

Organizations
(CSOs) in Local
Governance and
the Local Special
Bodies (LSBs)
A. Civil Society Organization
(CSO) Defined
A non-state and non-profit association
that works to improve society and the
human condition (Reference: DILG MC
2013-70, dtd. July 24, 2013)
Basic types of CSOs: non-governmental
organizations, peoples organization,
civic organization, cooperative, social
movement, professional group and
business group (Ref. DILG Vigilance to
Volunteerism Program Manual)
B. NGOs/POs Defined

~NGOs (NEDA Definition)

i. Private, non-profit, voluntary organizations that
are committed to the task of what is broadly
termed as development
ii. Possessing relatively small and flexible
structures with their services focused on marginal
groups in the rural and urban areas
iii. Having farmers, women, indigenous peoples,
informal settlers, youth and marginalized sectors
as clientele
iv. Having an intimate knowledge of local
situations and are in a better position to know
and understand the problems and needs of local
communities
~ POs (Constitutional Definition)
i. Bona Fide associations of
citizens with demonstrated capacity
to promote the public interest and
with identifiable leadership,
membership and structure
ii. Tend to represent their
members direct interest, have
member-accountable leadership, and
are substantially self-reliant
C. Legal Mandates for Participatory
Governance
a. Constitutional Provisions (1987
Constitution)
i. Sec. 23, Article II
ii. Sec. 15, Article XIII
iii. Sec. 16, Article XIII
b. Local Govt. Code of 1991 (R.A. 7160)
i. Provides for the creation of legal infrastructure,
form as well as the institutionalization of, NGO/PO
participation in local governance.
ii. Target beneficiaries of decentralization are the
people and their involvement in local governance
is vital to ensuring that local autonomy works to
their best interest.
iii. Upholds the constitutional right of the
people and their organizations to effective and
reasonable participation at all levels of social,
political and economic decision-making.
iv. Establishes mechanisms that institutionalize
peoples participation on the formulation and
implementation of development programs.
v. Mandates LGUs to promote the
establishment and operation of peoples
organizations (POs) and NGOs to become active
partners in the pursuit of local autonomy.
vi. Provides for the membership of NGOs
and/or the private sector in the local special
bodies and encourages joint undertakings
between LGUs and NGOs/private sector
D. Membership in Local Special Bodies (LSBs)

~The Code ensures the active participation of NGOs and

the private sector in local governance through their
membership in local special bodies;

i. Local Development Council (LDC)

~Representatives of NGOs operating in the barangay,
municipality, city, or province as the case maybe, shall
constitute not less than one-fourth (1/4) of the members
of the fully organized council (Sec. 107, LG Code 1991)
~must have representative from the women sector or if
practical, at least 40% of the fully organized council shall
be composed of women (Sec.11 (b), R.A. 9710, Magna
Carta of Women)
 ~ Similarly, other existing
laws enacted and passed subsequent
to the passage of the LG Code of 1991
that further define the composition of
the LDCs and other LSBs, such as, but
not limited to. R.A. 8371 or the
Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997
and R.A. 8435 or the Agriculture and
Fisheries Modernization Act, involving
the inclusion of the basic sectors in the
LSBs, especially the LDC, should apply
ii. Local School Board (LSB)
~ 3 members are from the private sector (local
federation of parent-teacher associations, local
teachers organization, non-academic personnel
of public schools) (Sec. 98, LGC, 1991)
iii. Local Health Board (LHB)
~ a representative from the private sector or
NGOs involved in health services (Sec. 102,
LGC, 1991)
iv. Local Peace and Order Council (POC)
~ 3 members are from the private sector
(academe, civic, religious, youth, labor, legal,
business and media organizations) (E.O. No. 309
as amended, s. 1988, E.O. No. 773 s. 2009)
v. Peoples Law Enforcement Board
(PLEB)
(R.A. 6975, DILG Act of 1990, NAPOLCOM
Circular No. 2007-001)
~ three (3) members from among the
respected members of the community
known for their probity and integrity
chosen by the Peace and Order Council
(POC), (one (1) of whom must be a
member of the Bar, or in the absence
thereof, a college graduate, or the
principal of the elementary school in
the locality)
E. People Empowerment
i. Mandatory Consultation (Art.54, Rule XI, RRI R.A.
7160, LG Code of 1991)
~consultation with POs, NGOs and other
concerned sectors in the community are required
to be conducted prior to implementation of any
national program or projects in a locality

ii. Recall (Art.154-162, Rule XXI, RRI R.A. 7160, LG Code

of 1991)
~right of registered voters to institute the process
of recall against any elective local official whose
performance has not been to the satisfaction of a
specified percentage of the registered number of
voters at the time of his election
iii. Initiative (Art.133-149, Rule XX, RRI R.A. 7160, LG
Code of 1991)
~ allows registered voters of an LGU to directly
propose, enact, repeal or amend any ordinance
~ constituents of an LGU may invoke the power of
initiative to ensure the promulgation of ordinances that
uphold their interest

iv. Referendum (Art. 150-153, Rule XX, RRI R.A. 7160,

LG Code of 1991)
~ legal process whereby the registered voters of the
LGU may approve, amend or reject any ordinance
enacted by the local legislative council
~constituents of an LGU may, through the local
referendum, modify or reject ordinances enacted by the
local legislative council that do not serve their needs or
run counter to their aspirations
 v. Mandatory Public Hearings
~ reclassification of agricultural
lands
~ permanent or temporary
closure of roads
~ imposition of taxes
~ transfer of sites of public
facilities
~ contracting of loans and
other forms of indebtedness