21/07/2026
PRESS BRIEFER
MAYOR RB AQUINO SIGNS "MONCADA PEOPLE'S COUNCIL" ORDINANCE
On July 20, 2026, Mayor Ramon Benito "RB" M. Aquino signed and approved Municipal Ordinance No. 2026-006, officially known as "The People Empowerment Ordinance of Moncada 2026."
Enacted unanimously by the 12th Sangguniang Bayan during its 28th Regular Session on July 14, 2026, under the leadership of Vice Mayor Jessie "Jess" Aquino, the landmark measure was sponsored by Councilor Celeste A. Ayson, Chairperson of the Committee on CSOs, NGOs, and POs.
Personally endorsed and requested by Mayor RB Aquino, the legislation draws inspiration from the participatory governance framework of Naga City, ensuring that the voice of the people remains central to local policy-making, planning, and program ex*****on. The ordinance grants permanent legal personality to the Moncada People’s Council, which has operated for the past five years, establishing it as the official representative umbrella body for all accredited non-governmental and people’s organizations in the municipality.
Under this Ordinance, accredited civil society organizations (CSOs) are allocated up to 25% of the seats on local special bodies, boards, and committees, allowing civic leaders to propose local legislation, attend committee hearings, and directly influence municipal planning.
To support administrative operations, the ordinance creates a permanent CSO Desk directly under the Office of the Municipal Mayor to serve as a central database hub, administrative body, and training coordinator in partnership with national agencies such as the DILG, DA, CDA, SEC, and DOLE.
The measure also institutionalizes the "Annual Moncada CSO Night" every second week of February as an anchor event of the Kamote Festival, featuring a joint State of the Civil Society Address by the Municipal Mayor and the People's Council President alongside awards for outstanding civic initiatives.
To guarantee long-term operational sustainability, the Ordinance also mandates an automatic annual allocation within the budget of the Office of the Municipal Mayor to fund the operations of the People’s Council, the CSO Desk, and the Annual CSO Night.
READ FULL TEXT HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CPaLLipHHgYfdp6Aly7kUTDfqLW8t7iP/view?usp=sharing
