UC Law students turn over draft representation rules

The University of Cebu Law students under lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos turned over their draft of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for local sectoral representation to Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon in a forum held last June 30 at the UC-Banilad campus.

The forum, entitled “Popularizing and strengthening democracy through local sectoral representation,” had Comelec Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento as its guest speaker.

It was organized by the UC Law Students Society and Kaabag sa Sugbo, in cooperation with UC, Cebu City Councilors Alvin Dizon and Nida Cabrera and the Urban Poor Alliance – Cebu.

Forum organizers are pushing for the implementation of Section 41 (c) of the Local Government Code, which mandates the election of local sectoral representatives in local legislative bodies.

One representative each will come from the women and workers sector, and one from any of the urban poor, indigenous cultural community and persons with disability.

Sarmiento said he supports the initiatives to craft the implementing laws and rules for local sectoral representation.

Sarmiento encouraged the sectoral groups to write a letter to the Comelec and submit their final draft of the IRR for the Comelec to promulgate the rules and regulations for the election of sectoral representatives.

Among the sectoral groups in Cebu are the Alliance of Progressive Labor, Bidlisiw Foundation, University of Southern Philippines Foundation Social Workers Group, Pagtambayayong Foundation, Mother Ignacia National Social Apostolate Center – Cebu, Children’s Legal Bureau, and UC Law Students Society. /UP Masscom student Judelyn V. Felicilda