Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT A. Francisco Gold Condominium ll Bldg, EDSA corner Mapagmahal St., Diliman,'Quezon City

LEGAL SERVICE

DrLC oPrNroN NO. 109 S. 20t0 JUI{ X I 20O MR. ENRICO A. AURELIO Secretary to the Sanggunian Laoag City

Dear Mr. Aurelio:

This has reference to your earlier letter asking this Department's legal opinion on matters pertaining to the review of City Ordinance No. 2008-062, entitled: "An Ordinance Declaring The Laoag City General Hospital as an Economic Enterprrse of the City of Laoag"by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Norte.

In reply thereto, please be informed that this Depaftment had already answered a related query in DILG Opinion No. r 6, series ol' 9oog. in the said legal opinion, we opined that during the mandatory review period of the ordinance which is within 30 days upon receipt thereof, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan should have issued their legislative action in the form of a Resolution containing their disapproval in whole or in part of any ordinance submitted tg them for review. It is not enough that they deliberated, debated and voted on the measure ought to be reviewed, because what is required of them is the enactment of a legislative document to formally and finally put to rest a given measure or issue. After the lapse of such period, and no official and/or formal document, such as a resolution which shall contain the findings of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on review of the municipal ordinance or resolution, was issued by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, it can be validly stated that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan failed to act within 30 days and the ordinance or resolution under review can be presumed consistent with law and therefore va lid.

Hereto attached is a photocopy of the aforesaid DILG Opinion for your ready perusal.

Thank you and warm regards.

Very truly yours,

BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY:

ATTY. lv Director IiI Ls/17 d /4 RepUl) ljc of fl]0 phtlipt)ines DEPAT{I'IVIENT OF'IIIE IIITEfi {O[I AI\ D I-,OQAL COVERNMENT A. Francisco oolcl conclontiniLlm lt Bjclg, EDSA cofner Ntapagnlahal st., Diljntan, QLtczon citv @lFlFllGE @lF lf-lHlE tulrNlDlEIaSECltQtElfafttRy/ tFottR LocalL covEtRtNtMilEtrN]]f-

i.lll.,Lrl tiriirii{tr;ri;li t,l{ji ,*.16, -.-L, iriirl*" ., Morch 23. 2009

Mtt. cARLtTo T'. TARUVU\fi,I l0 Fcriscrl Sl., Frlinvesl ll Quezon Cily

De-;crr, 4,4r. l'orinton :

This pertoins io your leller secking cloriliccrlion on lhe prcper inlergrreioliorr ol Alicle 1']0(t1) of llrr: lmplonrerrtirrg llLrles ond Regulolions ol'lhe Locol Govelrrrnenl corir: whiclr ;rrovicles, "lI no ociiorr hos L,een tcrkerr by lhe So'ggu'iong po'rcrrowigcr' wirhin Ihirfy (30) croys oiler submissior-r of such ordinonces or resolrrliorrs, il-re some sl-roll be presunred consislenlwilh lhe low, oncl lhe.'relore, vcrlici,'.

Your incluiry is premisecl orr rhe foilowing focls, whiclr we deenr besl lo re;rrociuce 1'or bef ler opprecicrlion, viz:

orr l9 Jcrnucr ry 2009, lhe scrnggunionql rJcryon of Viroc, Corqnduones o1:provecl Municipol Resolulion No. 2oo9-r,006 enocling Municipol orclinarrce No. 2009-0r, recrc-rssifyirrg lhr: rwo (2) properlies silugled ot Viroc, Ccrlcrncluc rres, fr'orl rersiclenliol lo cornmei.cjcrl oreos. ]

" On 29 Jonuory 2009. lhe Oflicc- ol ilrc Sor rgoUniong Boyor r ol Viroc enclorsecl Municipol Resolulion l'lo 200? 0 | 006 encrc tirrg Mi..rnicipol Orclirrcrnce l\o. 2009-0 I lo llre Sorrgguniong I'c r-r lolcwigcrn oj' C L tlr-tflr ludllus lOr teviOw

" On lB Fcbruory 200?, irr ils /t' rc(JUlor session, llre Scrrrggurriong Ponlolcrwigorr ol co londucrncs, rJpon rrrolion of cr memlcer, volcd lc,r declare lhe obove Resolulion crrrd orclincrnce os invcrlicl for l>eing ullro vtres. -2

or l9 Februory )009, Mr . It,:c> rJ. rJir..io, Lcglisrcrrivc-- srcrlf o|ficer r oi rlre Songrguniong Ponrolowigcrrr .r' ccroncrucr-res, wrole cr re1 rer ccicrressed lo Vice Moyor. ond Scnglgur.tiirng Bcryon l)resicling Officer Loynes, noy V. infornring Ihol lhe srrl.rjecl ortlirrcrnce hod been considered ond reviewed by rrre Scrngll'lLrniorrg Pc r.rc'rlcrwiglr:rr r crrcr wos rouacr r'o rre "tlclcc liv.' , rrr,l invirli. l".

fhe nexl regulcrr session ol lfre Scinllgunicrrg I'onlolowigon of colonclr-iones wcls scirecrurr,-'ci rcrs|. 25 F.r.-,Tucrry 200? bur r,o rarrio,., *a,, he-lcl 'lhus, lor ollegeclly icrck ol'cluofllr. lfre /vlir-rLrle-s or lhe zrh regulcrr session of llre scrnggLrnicrrg l:'irnlcrlcrwillcrrr helcl lcrsl lB Februory iool , wlrich conlinued the clelibr:rollon crncl voling decloring llre Resolulion ond Ordincrnce os involid, wos not considerecJ nor opprovecl.

' 28 I'ebruqry 2009 i5 [[6 ]Qrrr clcry orr whiclr lhe Songguniong Pcrnlolowigon lrqs 1o foke oclion on lhe review of the obove desolufioir ond ordincrnce under Arricre I r 0 (c1) of the rRR of |'rre Locor Governrnenl Code.

wc lcrke il llrol you Lre r,)w irr cr c1rr, llr(l(r'y vis o-vis llre obovc- slolecl provision of ilre Locr:l Govcrnnrenl Cocle crs lo wlrelher:

l. The 30 cJoy prescribecl ;reriocl is crbsoluio so os lo be Leckonecl willr hon-t lhe clcrle ol recc.:i1rl by llre Scrrgguniong Pnnlcrlowigon regorclless ol llre irrlc.rvorring crc.lions t

cot't ln)ilJee lreorirrgs/onterrrlnren ls; c_rr ;

2. The prescr.iplive periocl is ou lorncrliccrlly exlinguished by lhe in lervening oc lions lokerr by llrt- crugtrsl body os enumercrlr,;d' o bove.

In resolving youf query, ntcry we lir.sl cile specilic provisiotis ol' llre Locol Government Cocle of l99l [lRA / | 60,| relevonl tlrerelo, 1o wil: I *S.E{C. 55. Review of Camytonent Citg qnd, )Vluniciytctl- Ordinaruces ar .Resolrrtiorrs bg .tlrc So.nggunicrng Fa.ntaleuigctrt.* (a) Witlaift three (3) d.ays a.Jter crytproual, the Secretaru to ttrc Sctnggunia.ng. panlungsod or SangEunio,n g BelloLtt stl.rl.tl foruard to the SttrtgEu.niattg Fanlaluwigttw lb, reuiew, copies oJ: altpraual orclins.nces attd. tLrc resolutiams aytprouirtg tLrc -.:r-

locatl tlevelopntent p lcurr-s @ficl pwb lit: inuestntent p t'o E t" o"tns Jr-trmu. Late cL b 11 th,e la a a-l r.!.ew,e l.opwtent. c attnci I s.

(b) Within thirty (3O) clcr.ys after receipt of copies of suchL ot-dinonces rlttcl t-t:solwtiotts, the sanEgurtictttE puttlwluwigttft shatll extitnrin e tlt.t: docttmettts or trolr.snt.it tLrctn to the provincial uttorrrcq, ot' if tlrcre be none, to the prouincial prosecutor for protnpt exantinations. The prrsuincial ettortleu or prouirtck I prosecutor shrrll, t-uithitt a peric'd af tcrt (XO) cla11s J\'o rrt receipt of the docttntents, itrJortn thc srtttggtttti{tftE polrldla uigizn in uttitittg of lris conutaetnts ot- recornrnend.atiotts, which tmclgbe corrsidered by Llrc sdttEELtnia nE patnldl&taigdn in nto.king th,e clecision.

(c) If ttte sangguttittng ltcutlakttuigan find.s that such (xrl ordind"tlce or re.sol:lution is begond tlze power conferred upotl ,the sanEgtutiantg pqnlungsod ot' sdnggunidng bayan concernerl, it slxtll declare such ordinantce or resolutiotx itxuelid in uhole or in part. The sdngguniang pdttlctldwiEan shdll enter its a,ctiota in ttLe ntinutes ancl shall aduise the correspondinE citA or ntuniqipal outhorities of the ct-ctiort it has token. (d) If t\o acl:ian l'tois been trllcetn bg the sdngguniang panlalawigan within thirtg (3O) dags after subrnission oJ sttch tut ordinqnce or resolutiott, the sarne' shall be presunted colrsistent witla law srtcl ther'eJ'ore aalid."

Bcrsinq ftot'tt the obove cltrolcl(l plovisions, we ofe of lfre view thcl lhe 30-clcry petiocl is obsolule cncl is nof irrlerrulrlecl by tlre inietvening oclions toke6 in between by lfre boc1y, such os rel'errols lo corrrrillee fi reelinOs/lleotitlgs, public hetttttrgs, pt)lioJ oI tlebolcs, olnendmerrls, elc Be if rrolecl thcri llre phrclse "tqlce action" on llre port of fhe Songgunion wilhin llre prescribecl pefiocl lixocj by lcrw should be consirued os eilheI clpprovol of cllsqpprovcll of lhe oldinonce oncl no1 just orry olher oclion of the reviewing Songgunicrn, such os l-e[erlols lo conrnlitlee, e[c]. Thls t'eclsonoblc- cotlclusion is iLlpe:rolive in orcler lo give slctbtlily in ihe enlotcemepl clrcl il-nplemenlcL Iton oI lhe Cily ond Municipc]l otqlirronces by errsuring lhr,rl ony tindings on ils vctlidily or involidity on reviewii5 rnode cri ihe ecrliesl opporlrrne Linre cotrsicletrrrg lhcrl lhe efl'eclivily clole o1 soicl orditlclnces is nol clc.:penclenl on li\e oll-goillg rcview of lhe SP bul f6llher ls -tl delerntined by ilre effeclivily dule fixecl in lfre: e l'l'ec livily clcuse ol' llre orcjlnqrlce ot'tn cqse ol silonce, l-.ry lftc lrrlrvisictns ol' Seclion 59 of llre locol Governrnenl Code.

Mcry il [re .lso e'rlrrrcr:;izt-'L r lrror clrrrirrg |.lre mcrndotoTy review periocl ol'ihe orc|nqnce wliich is wilhin 30 clcrys uporr receipl fhereol, lhe Scrngguniong Ponlcrlowigon shoulc:l lrcrve ii;suerrl lheir legislotive oction in llre torrn c.rI o Resolr,rlion conloinirrgl llroir tliscrpprovcrl in whote or in porl of cny orclironcc-' subnrillecl io llrr:rr for revie:w. ll is nol enouglr llrcrl llrey delibo-roled, c1e bolecl crrrci volerri orr lhe fire-.crsrl-c oughl Io be reviewed, beccuse whcl is requirecl oI llrern is llre encctnrent of cr leqislcrtive documenl lo forrnolly crncl lincrlly pul lo reslo givr:ri1r-neosure or iszuc. ll is nol lo be deuied thcrl legislcrrive oclions, eilfrer Ior purposes of permonently enlorcing o rule ol crctiorr or sirllpld lhe expression of o senliment slroulcl be clone or ex1:ressecl llrrough cr {ocurnerrl provinr; lhe collegiol oncl colleclive slcncl llre rnr--rnbcrs - ol'c foccrl legislolive irody lrove lcrken- ris coulcl lcrke llro lorrn ol crr-r orclirfionce if it provicles o perrnonent rule of conclucl or o resolulion of l$e Songgunion, os o collegiol body, shcrll express ils vic--ws, senlirnenls or findings on onv rnollef puI bel'ore lherrr. Jfris clocun-renl so r:Trcrcfecl id imbued with public inleresl, so mucl-r so thcrl, if sholl be lhe bosis ot lhelgenerol public io rel, upon in performirrg their respeclive obligc:rlions or

PetJolcp, ol'ler lhe lopse ol' sLrch 1:terioc1, crlr..1 no oflicicll dncl/of lormcl clocumerr[, suclr qs o resolulion whiclr shcrll Corrtoin lhe finclinos of tlre Scrnggunicrrg Ponlolc-rwigon on review oI lhc rr'lunicipcrl ordinorrJe or resoluliorr, wcts issued by llre Sorrgcyunicrrrgl l,crrrlolov,figcrn, il con be volidl, slolecl lhcrt llre Songguniong t'orrlolcrwigcrn fcrilecl 1b oc1 wiihin ltiirty (eo) cloys oncl lhe ordinonce or resolulion under revidw con be presumed consislenl will'r low ond iherel'ore vcrlid. I

Pleose be infornreil crlso llrcrl lltis Deptrrlr|enl lros corisislenlly opinecl ihoI when o powel is given. oncl lltol lhe pdwer is to be exercisecl willritt o prescriplive period, llton suclrprt-st.ril,livr; pcriocl is considered o lir.nilolion lo suclr ltrower. This is consislenl wilh lhe p,rrinciple IhctI "rahere a statlrte prescribes a titne witttitr tuhich a public officer is to perfonn official acts affectittg tlrc rights of ofhers, it is clirectorg crs to tlre tinte, unl-ess frotn the r.c!,tltre of the a.dt, the desi,gnc,Ltiort of -o- titne must be considered a linrjtrl,tion on the power of the ofJicer" (50 AM Jur,23, p. 46, cited by Alconlocr, Sonrsorr, Slcrtules, 1990 ED.)

Apropos io the cbove disquisilion, we ore of llre opiniorr thoi Viroc. Coloncluones Municipol Otclirroncc lrlo. 2009-0 l, whiclr wos subnrillecl for review to lhe Scngguniong Porrlctlcrwigcrrr of Coionduones, is 1o be presumed consislenI with low ctncl tflus, vcilid on 28 Februory 2009, or tlririy (30) dctys ofler if wos su[:rniilec1 cnd received by the Scrnggurriong Ponlolowigon for review, in view oI lhe lcrller's fcrilure to ioke lhe necessor y fornrol oclion i hor eon.

Floping thoi we hove enliglrlened you occorclingly.

Very truly yours,

AUSTERE A. PANADEROANADERO Unclersecrelq rV t M Legal:87/Lo

ccr vf Difeclol Blandino M. Moceclo DILG Regionol Ottice No. 05 Legozpi Cily