Day 162: SK Governance v.5.0

Our last session for the SK Governance program is "The SK Budget". We had it in the SK Office  with Mrs. Elizabeth P. Sorilla, Budget Officer IV, as lecturer.

Mrs. Sorilla will be retiring soon and she expressed her gratefulness to have her last lecture on budget, before retirement with the young. But the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Fatima had the pleasure of having this seasoned public employee with us. However, her public service might not end here since she's posed for a position in their barangay, as an official.

She has given notable insights on how we the barangay budget came to be, and how the SK budget took its form. She further identified important aspects of the SK fund's allocation requirements and gave points to which project it may be put to good use in a barangay setting.

A focused discussion on SK Budget is available on this audio presentation via Youtube. This being said, she also discussed allocation of the barangay funds and a good amount of life experience.

Any more words?

We will be providing profiles of prospective Sangguniang Kabataan candidates, especially the Chairpersons. How these profiles are generated will be best explained on future posts.

I was thinking of sharing something funny on my next post.

Day 173: Parliamentary Procedure 101 pt. 1

Our Parliamentary Procedure Lecture, part of the SK Governance program, was held today, 12^th of July 2013, at (can you believe it?) Sangguniang Panglungsod Session Hall! Yes!

Before the lecture/workshop, we we’re invited by our speaker to secure permission from the Vice Mayor’s for the use of the facility. The request was granted. On the day, the staffs have been very accommodating and the hall was so fitting for the said lecture. The facility and total ambience welcomed the participants for the lecture’s invitation of a healthy mental calisthenics.

We had an awesome time with more than 30 young people, prospective SK Officials and students, and guests.

The company was participative enough to thoroughly practice what Mrs. Rosalinda Mondido taught. They had a workshop and Kervin Cang became the mock session’s Presiding Officer, proponents of the discussed motion were Metuschella Lasdoce and Vlademir Durban, Jr.

Basic Principles in Parliamentary Procedure.

1. Every member has equal right, whether to vote or discuss.
2. Majority, i.e., Simple Majority (1/2+1), always rules; however,
3. Minority must be heard and rights be protected.
4. There should be singularity of subject having one subject at a time.
5. Debate and free discussion is allowed, must be allowed.
6. Motions are to be voted upon.
7. The Presiding Officer must be impartial, fair.
8. Courtesy to others during meeting, decorum, is observed in any proceedings.

But what is “decorum”?

In Mrs. Mondido’s words, “In parliamentary parlance, the term decorum refers to the propriety of conduct and decency of words or speech of members in a deliberative body or assembly.”

The Rules of Decorum…

…should be known by any participant of a Parliamentary Procedure. Remember to observe:

• Impersonal and formal reference to the Presiding Officer
• Impersonal and formal reference to another member.
• Pertinence of statements to issue discussed.
• Remarks, questions, or answers are coursed to the Chair.
• Speaking against own motion is not allowed.
• Time limit! As how Mrs. Mondido [link] suggested, only 2 minutes for each speaker.
• Civility of conduct is expected – on all members.
• No monopoly of discussion or debate.
• Changing of votes may be made by members.
• Seeking recognition first before speaking.
• Timing of “motion to adjourn”. It must not be done if someone is speaking or has the floor.
• That motion of reporting committee chairman or member needs no second.
• Impartiality of the Chair.
• That exercise of right has limit.

Interpellation Rules!

Ma’am Mondido kept it plain:

• Be honest in asking questions
• Avoid embarrassing questions
• Avoid fault-finding questions
• Avoid questions that tend to cross examine or interrogate.
• Avoid asking more than two successive questions at a time.
• Graciously acknowledge the answer.
• Never argue with the respondent.

Any more words?

Glory be to God in all of these feats! There are other things that we have learned. I may post it soon. I’ll link the two posts for review.

Tomorrow will be last session for this program, SK Budgeting. This ought to be fun!

Also, have time to click this link for the schedule and program of the Kal’ton Festival.

Happy 3^rd Kal’ton Festival Fatima!

Day 190: Resolution Making 101 pt.4

To conclude the topic about Resolution making, or drafting, for your Sanggunian, LGU, or organization, let us do a recap. We like to give credits to Ma’am Mondido for this.

Parts of a Resolution.

We have understood that a Resolution has eight parts.

1. Heading
2. Name of Author
3. Assigned Number
4. Title
5. “Whereas” Clause
6. Main Resolutory Portion
7. Secondary Resolutory Portion, and
8. Concluding Portion

We have discussed these parts on batches: Heading to Title, and “Whereas” Clause to the Concluding Portion.

Purpose.

Heading.

• Its purpose is to indicate the originating local unit or organization.

Name of Author.

• Its purpose is to indicate authorship.

Assigned Number.

• Its purpose is to reflect the numerical series in the order they were discussed and approved.

Title.

• Its purpose is to express in once sentence the substance of the resolution.

“Whereas” Clause.

• Its purpose is to provide the reasons for the adoption of the resolution in logical sequence.

Main Resolutory Portion.

• Its purpose is to reflect what legislative or deliberative body feels or desires.

Secondary Resolutory Portion.

• Its purpose is to show how the resolution should reach the person or entity that would act on the wish of the Sanggunian or organization, including the distribution of copies thereof.

Concluding Portion.

• Its purpose is to embody the date and the place of approval, the verification of the presiding officer, and the attestation of the secretary.

Any more words?

I feel relieved having finished this series. Whew! However, really tidy up your Resolution, do not forget to consider the "Language of a Resolution".

I’ll update you with iLead3 very soon.

Work Cited: Mondido, R. (2010). Resolution making with minutes prep.

Day 191: Resolution Making 101 pt.3

There are four remaining parts of a Resolution:

1. Whereas Clause
2. Main Resolutory Portion
3. Secondary Resolutory Portion
4. Concluding Portion

Whereas Clause.

How would you feel reading a two-page Whereas clause? Or more? Yes. It can depend but as for us, we greatly encourage to limit a barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan, or an organization’s Resolution to three Whereas-es. Yes you read it right, three (3).

The first Whereas should include the basis of the foregoing Resolution. For example:

"WHEREAS, the National Youth Commission (NYC) and the Department of Education (DepEd), together with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other partner agencies, are currently implementing Abot-Alam. Furthermore, the DILG disseminated Memorandum Circular No. 2013-18 for all Local Government Unit (LGU), specifically the Barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan, to undertake the said program;"

So we know that the Resolution get its authority, and validity, from the DILG M.C. No. 2013-18. The next Whereas should show the status quo.

"WHEREAS, the barangay has a growing number of OSY but has less-targeted programs for the specific group;"

The last and final Whereas will state the result if the activity or program be implemented through the Resolution.

"WHEREAS, integrating the OSY of barangay Fatima through the Barangay Targeting System can provide them with opportunities of education, career and employment. Thus, alleviate the living condition of the OSYs making them responsive to nation building;"

Yes, capitalize the letters in “Whereas” in boldface and you should end with a semi-colon.

Tip: You may not even get to three Whereas-es! The second Whereas stating the “status quo” may not be included.

Try reading the Whereas-es again and we invite your comments below.

Main Resolutory Portion.

So, after discussing your Resolution on the Whereas Clause, you need to proceed to the Main Resolutory Portion, or clause if you will.

"RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, to approve the implementation of the Barangay Tageting System for Out-Of-School Youth under “Abot-Alam”."

Of course you end with a period this time.

In addition, just repeat the your title and place it in this clause. The ONLY difference is that instead of totally copying it, use the infinitive mood, i.e., instead of “approving”, as in the title, you will state it as “to approve”, or “to request”, or “to allocate”, etc.

Secondary Resolutory Portion.

"RESOLVED, FURTHER, that the Purok Officials and Purok Sangguniang Kabataan Officials shall assist the Sangguniang Kabataan in completing the forms provided by the NYC."

Concluding Portion.

After the Resolution was approved, the final copy of the Resolution should include this portion which will have such aspects:

"Passed by the Sangguniang Barangay, Fatima, City of General Santos on its 43^rd Regular Session held on June 19, 2013."

To end, it should be certified as correct by the Secretary, further attested by the Presiding Offficer.

Any more words? 

For information about the "Language of a Resolution", refer to the handout.

I’ll be coping with all other Sangguniang Kabataan activities in our barangay. I really hope to have several posts this week.

Thank you to Mrs. Mondido!

Day 196: Resolution Making 101 pt.2

There are eight necessary parts of a Resolution. These parts will be discussed in two halves. The firs four parts will be discussed in this post.

Parts of a Resolution.

A Resolution has 8 parts:

1. Heading
2. Assigned Number
3. Title or Caption
4. Name of Author
5. Whereas Clause
6. Main Resolutory Portion
7. Secondary Resolutory Portion
8. Concluding Portion

1) The Heading.

Keep the heading of a Resolution simple but detailed enough to acknowledge the authority from where the document was passed.

E.g.:

Republic of the Philippines

OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN

Fatima, General Santos City

And yes, I intentionally make the second line bold and all-capital, and the address italicized. Not just it appears formal, of course it should be, but on those three lines you will have the idea where the Resolution was approved, and from what authority it holds validity.

2) Assigned Number.

In most cases, many Resolution make their Resolution Number as:

Resolution No. 007-13

Series of 2013

However, the “-13” in the first line of the assigned number is redundant to the year or series it was approved. Thus, we correct it:

Resolution No. 007

Series of the 2013

The next time one would ask for a copy of a Resolution from your office, he or she should be certain what year it was created so you would pick the right reference for further promulgations.

3) Title or Caption.

What can you observe in the example of a correct Title or Caption of a Resolution?

RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CITY MAYOR, HON. KEVIN L. SAMEJON, TO ALLOCATE P300,000.00 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN (SK) GREENHOUSE PROJECT IN BARANGAY FATIMA, THIS CITY

Questions that should be satisfied for a sound Resolution Title or Caption.

1. What do you want to do?

• Answer: “request”

2. To whom do you want to execute such?

• Answer: “the city mayor”

3. How will he satisfy your request?

• Answer: “allocate funds”

4. Are there any additional details?

• Answer: Amount, “P300,000.00”, and location, “Barangay Fatima, this city”.

Also, do type the title in all-capital, and WITHOUT a period. This gives you the idea that a title may be fragment but contains complete idea. It is not always necessary to be a sentence. Actually, many titles can go longer or shorter than the example above.

4) Name of Author.

The name of the author or sponsor of the Resolution is as simple as aligning it on the center and indicating their role in the foregoing resolution. No boldface needed.

Hon. Hill Song and Hon. Planet Shakers – Sponsors

Hon. Don Moen – Co-sponsor

Any more words?

The Whereas Clause is a very interesting part that’s why I decided to separate them from this post. So I daintily divided them 4 by 4.