he Sangguniang Panlalawigan (English: Provincial Council), commonly known as the Provincial

Board, is the Filipino language name given to the legislatures in Philippine provinces. They are
the legislative branch of the province and their powers and responsibilities are defined by the Local
Government Code of 1991.[1] Along with the provincial governor, the executive branch of the
province, they form the province's government.

Contents

 1History
 2Powers, duties, and functions
 3Composition
 4Allocation and apportionment of regularly elected members
 5List
o 5.1Historical provinces
 6References

History[edit]
During the early period of Spanish colonization, newly conquered areas were designated
as encomiendas which were headed by an encomendero chosen by the Spanish from among the
ranks of the powerful local nobles. Encomiendas were organized only for the purposes of collecting
tribute that went in part to the Roman Catholic Church, the Spanish army, and to the Royal Treasury.
Later on areas which were organized and given the designation of "province" (provincia) were led by
an appointed alcalde who performed judicial, fiscal and executive functions. This system of
government lasted for almost three hundred years until 1886 when a governor (gobernador) was first
appointed in each of the eighteen existing provinces, relegating the alcalde to carry out only judicial
functions.[2]
American rule brought radical changes to the system of local government in the country. In 1901
the Philippine Commission enacted Act No. 83, known as the Provincial Government Act, which
outlined the powers, responsibilities and composition of the provincial government. Each regularly
organized province was provided a Provincial Board composed of three provincial officials: the
governor, the treasurer, and a "third member" who in most cases was known as the supervisor. The
governor in regularly organized provinces under civilian control were initially elected by municipal
vice-presidents and councilors within the province through a convention held in the provincial capital
every even-numbered year.[2] As civil government took hold, the governorship was made elective.
The composition of provincial boards were also later modified, with the treasurer and "third member"
taken out and replaced by two members elected by popular vote. Not all provinces had the same
type of government. Officials in specially organized provinces (those termed "Non-Christian
provinces") were appointed by the Governor-General with the approval of the Philippine
Commission[3] until legislation gradually brought each of them in line with regularly organized
provinces, that by the time of independence in 1946 all provinces had largely similar governments.
The passage of Republic Act No. 2264 (the "Local Autonomy Act") on June 19, 1959 not only
granted greater autonomy to local governments, but also expanded the composition of the Provincial
Board by creating a new elective office, the vice-governorship, as well as providing for provinces of
the first, second and third income class to have one additional elected board member.[4] However,
the Board still had limited real legislative powers, as the provincial government was merely serving
as an extension of national government.[5] Republic Act No. 5185 was enacted in 1967 with the
intention of decentralizing authority and further empowering local governments to address the needs
of their constituents more effectively.[6]
By virtue of Presidential Decree No. 826 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos on November 14,
1975[7] all existing governing boards and councils in each province, city and municipality were
renamed Sangguniang Bayan. The province-level Sangguniang Bayan (later given the
name Sangguniang Panlalawigan,[8] commonly abbreviated to SP) consisted of all the incumbent
provincial board members (including the governor and vice-governor), plus a representative from
each municipality within the province, and the provincial president of the Katipunan ng Mga
Kabataang Barangay or Association of Barangay Youth.[7]
Batas Pambansa Blg. 51, enacted in 1979, standardized the composition of all provincial legislatures
by reducing the membership of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. All provinces were entitled to 6
elective SP members, unless they had more than one million residents (8 members) or less than
100,000 residents (4 members). Direct municipal representation was eliminated, and in its place was
indirect "grassroots" representation through the president of the provincial association of barangay
chairmen who was appointed by the President, who also happened to be the Prime Minister. Other
members of the new Sanggunian were the governor and the vice governor, both elected by popular
vote, and the president of the provincial federation of the Kabataang Barangay, appointed by the
President/Prime Minister.[9]
The powers and duties of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan was codified under Batas Pambansa Blg.
337, also known as the Local Government Code of 1983. The governor served as an ex
officio member, who did not vote except only to break a tie, but had the power to veto items within,
or entire, Sanggunian ordinances and resolutions. However the veto can be overridden by a two-
thirds vote of all voting SP members.[10]
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan was retained as the legislative branch of all provincial governments
under the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code of 1991. However, unlike the old
Provincial Boards or the pre-1992 Sanggunian, which included in their memberships provincial
executives, under current laws the governor is not considered as a Sanggunian member (although
he or she retains the power to veto SP legislation, which can still be overridden by a two-thirds vote
of all voting members), and the vice-governor, who has now become the presiding officer, only
participates in breaking ties in voting. Since 1992 SP members are elected from districts to ensure
geographical representation, and the size of the province's Sanggunian was dependent on its
income classification rather than population.[1]

Powers, duties, and functions[edit]

The powers, duties, and functions of the Sanggunian are outlined in Section 468 of the Local
Government Code of 1991.[1] The legislative body is tasked in general to "enact ordinances, approve
resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the province and its inhabitants... in the
proper exercise of the corporate powers of the province." Its powers, duties and functions are
outlined into five broad mandates:

 "Approve ordinances and pass resolutions necessary for an efficient and effective provincial
government," which includes:
o Reviewing all ordinances approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang
Bayan of the province's component cities and municipalities to ensure that they and their
mayors are within their scope of powers as outlined in the Local Government Code
o Enacting measures to maintain peace and order and imposing penalties on violations of
such ordinances
o Approving ordinances that impose fines and/or imprisonment for violations of provincial
ordinances
o Adopt measures to protect the inhabitants of the province from harmful effects of man-made
or natural disasters, and provide relief services and assistance for victims not only during
 and in the aftermath of disasters and calamities, but also in their "return to productive
livelihood" following the events
o Enacting ordinances intended to prevent, suppress and impose appropriate penalties for
"activities inimical to the welfare and morals of the inhabitants of the province," such as
prostitution, juvenile delinquency and drug addiction.
o Protect the environment and impose appropriate penalties for acts which endanger the
environment
o Determine the powers and duties of officials and employees of the province in accordance
with the Local Government Code and pertinent laws, and also determine their wages,
salaries, allowances, honorariums, compensation and other emoluments and benefits, and
provide for expenditures necessary to properly carry out programs, projects, services and
activities of the provincial government
o Provide a mechanism (and appropriate funding for it) to ensure the safety and protection of
all provincial government property, public documents and records
o When the finances of the provincial government allow, provide for additional allowances or
other benefits to officials and public servants working in the province
 "Generate and maximize the use of resources and revenues for the development plans, program
objectives and priorities of the province... with particular attention to agro-industrial development
and country-wide growth and progress and relative thereto," which involve the following:
o Enact annual and supplemental appropriations of the provincial government and appropriate
funds for specific programs, projects, services and activities of the province, or for other
purposes not contrary to law, in order to promote the general welfare of the province and its
inhabitants
o Subject to the provisions of Book II of the Local Government Code and applicable laws and
upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang panlalawigan:
 Enact ordinances levying taxes, fees and charges, prescribing the rates thereof for
general and specific purposes, and granting tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs
 Authorize the provincial governor to negotiate and contract loans and other forms of
indebtedness
 Enact ordinances authorizing the floating of bonds or other instruments of indebtedness,
for the purpose of raising funds to finance development projects
o Appropriate funds for the construction and maintenance or the rental of buildings for the use
of the province; and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang
panlalawigan, authorize the provincial governor to lease to private parties such public
buildings held in