PGLU launches pilot testing of the Legislative Information System

By: Rafael C. Mosuela, GPC-SP

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In May 2020, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), under the leadership of Vice-Governor Mario Eduardo C. Ortega, embarked on the computerization of its legislative function through the acquisition of the "Legislative Management and Tracking System."

The "Legislative Management and Tracking System" or "LIS" as it is commonly called, is a software program developed as a tool to track, monitor, and store communications, requests, proposed resolutions and ordinances, communications, Sangguniang Bayan Resolutions and ordinances from different municipalities and one city to be acted upon.

The System is a project of the Vice Governor in cooperation with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretariat. The Provincial Government of La Union, under the leadership of Governor Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III, provided the needed support, such as the cost of installation, accommodation of two (2) MIS employees as trainers/ consultants, and the training of two (2) SP personnel on its operation and application.

As a modern tool, its features and functions include but are not limited to the following: It is a database of proposed and approved resolutions/ordinances of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and those from other Municipalities and cities of the Provinces, letters, memos, and communications; It keeps track of the status of proposed resolutions/ordinances, petitions, requests, and resolutions/ordinances from different Municipalities and cities of the Province; It automates the preparation of agenda, minutes, committee reports/referrals, and legislator's attendance and accomplishment reports; It automates the arrangement of legislative enactments according to subject matter thus, avoiding the duplication of legislative measures; It generates a paperless agenda into a Microsoft Word Format and an attached scanned PDF file. Each item in the agenda is hyperlinked when viewed in its full context; Accesses the full text of resolutions, ordinances, and minutes of the session in Microsoft Word Format; It allows the access, viewing, and printing of scanned attachments as supporting documents from the different cities, municipalities, and other provincial, regional, and national offices in PDF format; It minimizes time spent on administrative tasks, thus affording the staff more time for research, technical analysis, and conceptualization of Resolutions & Ordinances that consequently impact the lives of this Province's constituents.

The SP's "LIS" can be considered one of the most updated versions of the Tracking System used by different LGUs in the Province. It also holds the distinction of being the first "LIS" to be synced to a Paperless Legislation Program.

The actual performance of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and its members can also be determined through statistics on session attendance, committee meeting attendance, committee reports made, number of resolutions and ordinances authored, sponsored, and passed.

Furthermore, the System upgrade/s enhances not only the intellectual capability of the Secretariat but also its technical competence in support of the Sanggunian's Office vows to be responsive, active, and sensitive to the needs of the people.

To date, we are using almost all of its features, with the exception of the endorsement files, records locator, and implementation status.