Former senator Juan \u201cMorgen\u201d Tenorio and former municipal council member David Igitol have expressed opposition to two legislative initiatives granting municipal councils lawmaking authority.<\/p>\n
Tenorio believes that this would only result in additional burden for taxpayers. At the same time, he said that setting up the system such as hiring staff would cost more money.<\/p>\n
Igitol said this would only duplicate the functions of the existing local delegations\u2014composed of local lawmakers and the municipal mayors\u2014that tackle and address local concerns in aid of legislation.<\/p>\n
Igitol reportedly said it should be \u201cone way or the other.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe [Igitol] believes that either you go for local delegation or the empowered municipal council. You can\u2019t have both,\u201d according to House leadership spokesman Charles Reyes.<\/p>\n
He said that while majority of people invited in yesterday\u2019s public hearing favored the initiatives, those who aired their opposition also delivered \u201cconvincing\u201d statements.<\/p>\n
He said the House Committee on Judicial and Governmental Operations, chaired by Rep. Jesus Lizama, would review all the testimonies given during the hearing and come up with a report.<\/p>\n
The committee may also decide to hold another hearing if deemed necessary.<\/p>\n
Lizama\u2019s committee discussed yesterday House Legislative Initiatives 14-4 and 14-5, which aim to amend Articles 6 and 2 of the CNMI Constitution to allow municipal councils and the mayors\u2019 offices to enact local measures.<\/p>\n
Both initiatives are authored by Saipan Rep. Oscar M. Babauta. <\/p>\n
HLI 14-4, titled Municipal Government Legislative Initiative Act of 2004, amends Article 6 \u201cto treat each chartered municipality form of local governments on an equal basis and to further empower them to pass local laws exclusively on local matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
It said there still remain uncertainties and ambiguities as to the legal roles of these local agencies, although several attempts have been made to make them become more involved exclusively on local issues.<\/p>\n
The local governments refer to the municipalities of Saipan and Northern Islands, Tinian and Aguigan, and Rota.<\/p>\n
It cites greater local empowerment is necessary in anticipation of the CNMI\u2019s population growth, which would translate to more complex issues to address.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertain local issues are better left to local municipal governments to deal with in the form of local municipal ordinances and decentralized deliveries of public services,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
HLI 14-5 has a similar argument, noting that \u201cit is in the best interest of the people that each municipality play a more active role in local matters and issues strictly of local concern within their jurisdictions.\u201d<\/p>\n
HLI 14-4 provides that the mayor shall have the executive authority limited to local laws that affect only the island or islands served.<\/p>\n
It provides that the mayor may propose municipal ordinances relating to local matters for enactment by the municipal council.<\/p>\n
The mayor shall have 30 days to either approve or veto municipal ordinances.<\/p>\n
Every ordinance enacted by the council shall be signed by the presiding officer of the council and submitted to the mayor.<\/p>\n
It becomes a law upon the signing of the mayor. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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