RDC backs house bill mandating LGU population officers
The endorsement was made during the fourth quarter 2023 meeting of RDC's Social Development Committee held on November 16. It was based on the presentation of Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Caraga Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano.
House Bill No. 9420, authored by Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, proposes to amend Section 488 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991. The amendment will make it mandatory for provinces and cities, and optional for municipalities, to appoint population officers.
In his presentation, Dir. Makinano reported that the Regional Population Executive Board (RPEB) of Caraga passed RPEB Resolution No. 5 and 7 during its third quarter 2023 meeting. The resolutions call for the amendment of Section 488 of the Local Government Code to mandate the appointment of population officers.
He emphasized the bill's aim to address pressing population and development issues by enhancing the responsiveness of local government units (LGUs). The measure was aligned with RPEB and RDC resolutions expressing support for strengthening LGU capacity on population initiatives through plantilla positions for population officers as part of the Resources for the Awareness on Population Impacts on Development (RAPID) program.
The RDC-Social Development Committee (SDC) passed a resolution endorsing House Bill No. 9420 with a proposed amendment. They recommended that the appointment of a population officer be made mandatory for all provincial, city and municipal governments.
The committee's resolution will be transmitted to the congressmen representing the legislative districts of Caraga. The said endorsement is seen as vital to the bill's passage in Congress. (May Ann O. Escobal, CPD Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
