Press Release
January 19, 2012

Trillanes lauds PNoy for signing law granting
civil service eligibility to Sanggunian members

Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV lauded President Benigno S. Aquino III for signing into law a legislation that will grant appropriate civil service eligibility to members of Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

"I laud President Aquino for signing this bill into law. It is our shared interest to advance the welfare of our local legislators," Trillanes said.

Republic Act 10156 provides that an eligibility equivalent to Career Service Professional Eligibility shall be conferred upon a member of Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Panlalawigan who has served for an aggregate period of nine years in office, provided that such member must be a holder of a bachelor's degree.

Trillanes, who served as principal sponsor of the bill at the Senate, added: "[T]he very important role the members of our local legislative bodies play in their respective local government units as well as in their larger communities clearly entitles them to the conferment of this affirmative entitlement, honor and privilege."

The law also allows a Sangguniang member, who has served for an aggregate period of six years, to be eligible to a grade equivalent to a Career Service Sub-Professional, provided that such member has earned at least 72 units in any baccalaureate degree program.

"This legislative measure is of particular interest and enjoys the unqualified support of the Philippine Councilors League, the nationwide association of the 16,000-strong city and municipal councilors which considers the measure a legacy bill," said Trillanes, chairman of Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization.

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