By Farah G. Decano 

 

AN elected public official’s duty is a sacred trust. It is a commitment to serve the people and protect the public purse. At the very heart of this immense responsibility is the power of oversight — a power that ensures that every peso of public money is spent wisely, effectively, and for the benefit of the community.

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In any democratic government, whether national or local, the legislature holds the power of the purse. This isn’t just a political phrase; it is the fundamental authority to decide how public funds are allocated and spent. 

The legislature’s power of oversight comes with a solemn obligation: to act as the people’s watchdog in ensuring that these funds are used for their intended purpose without a single centavo being wasted or stolen.   

Repeat. The legislature should function as the people’s watchdog. 

For our local communities, this responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the Sanggunian, the legislative body of every local government unit (LGU) in the Philippines. 

Rooted in the Local Government Code of 1991 (R.A. 7160), the Sanggunian’s oversight role is the very essence of checks and balances at the local level. It is a powerful tool to demand transparency in order to hold the executive branch accountable. 

What is the extent of oversight powers of the Sanggunian? 

• Budgetary Oversight: This is the Sanggunian’s most critical function. It holds the key to the LGU’s finances by reviewing and approving the annual and supplemental budgets. 
• Legislative Inquiry: The Sanggunian can conduct thorough investigative inquiries to unearth the truth. These inquiries can expose corruption, such as “ghost projects,” and gather the necessary information to craft new, more effective laws. Through these inquiries, the Sanggunian can use the collected information to recommend actions for national agencies pertaining to projects within the locality. The Sanggunian can also compel local officials within its jurisdiction to testify as to matters subject of investigation.
• Performance Monitoring: the Sanggunian must physically monitor the implementation of projects and programs within its territory in accordance with plans. Conducting site visits to inspect infrastructure projects is part of oversight. This is function is concurrent with other offices.
• Review of Lower-Level Ordinances: The Sanggunian reviews the ordinances of lower LGUs to guarantee that they are legal, consistent with higher laws, and do not violate the public trust. 

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While the Sanggunian’s powers are vast, they are not without limits. Its role is to oversee and recommend; and not to seize executive power or act as a court. The goal is to strengthen governance, not to disrupt it.

The misconception that local officials are powerless to act when projects are funded and implemented by national agencies is a dangerous and unacceptable excuse.

Anomaly is an anomaly, regardless of who funds it. If a project within an LGU’s jurisdiction is riddled with issues — be it corruption, inefficiency, or poor quality — the local legislature has a sworn duty to act.  They must raise the alarm, object to the project, and report the matter to the proper authorities.

The LGU may not conduct financial and technical audit over questionable projects funded and implemented by national agencies but it can still perform other oversight functions.

For LGU officials to turn a blind eye to fraudulent national projects within their jurisdiction would be an utter betrayal of their oath and a grave disservice to the community that elected them and which they have sworn to protect.

If public officials, elected or appointed, say that LGUs have no oversight functions at all over projects that are funded and implemented by national agencies, then they are either ignorant, lazy, afraid, or protective of scams.

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