The Bacolod City Council has unanimously approved on third and final reading City Ordinance No. 1104, which creates 30 new positions for Local Legislative Staff Officer I within the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).
The measure was primarily authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito and co-authored by Councilors Israel P. Salanga, Em L. Ang, Jude Thadeus Sayson, Jason Villarosa, Celia Matea R. Flor, Roberto M. Rojas, Dindo Ramos, Psyche Marie E. Sy, Homer Q. Bais, Al Victor A. Espino, Lady Gles Gonzales-Pallen, and Dandina Marie C. Barzo.
The ordinance aims to significantly strengthen the SP’s workforce and improve its legislative output, Distrito said.
Each city councilor and the vice mayor will be assigned two additional Local Legislative Staff Officer I (LLSO I) staff. These new positions are confidential in nature and co-terminus with the tenure of the council members they serve, he said.
This marks the first time in over 30 years that the number of technical assistants for City Councilors has been increased, moving from three to five staff members per office, Distrito said.
Distrito said “the volume of documents, research, and coordination required of each councilor has increased tremendously. With additional technical staff, we can strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in crafting laws and policies that directly benefit Bacolodnons.”
“This is not about adding bureaucracy but about ensuring that our legislative output and public service keep pace with the needs of our fast-growing city”, he said.
Ramos said “more capable staff means better research, more thorough committee work, and a quicker response to constituents’ concerns.”
Flor said “This ordinance reflects our shared commitment to good governance and the delivery of quality legislative services for every Bacolodnon.”*