ILOILO City — The House of Representatives will bring national lawmakers and key government agencies directly to Iloilo this week as Miag-ao town hosts the Visayas leg of “LegisHear: Bawat Batas Mahalaga”, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at allowing ordinary Filipinos to influence future legislation while gaining access to frontline government services.
From July 10 to 12, Miag-ao will become one of only three pilot sites nationwide — alongside Isabela in Luzon and Butuan City in Mindanao — where residents can personally raise concerns, recommend policy reforms, and discuss issues directly with legislators and national government officials.
The legislative consultation and public service convergence program seeks to narrow the gap between lawmakers and the public by ensuring grassroots concerns are reflected in the crafting, amendment, and implementation of national laws.
“We in the 1st District are very happy that one of the first pilot areas of LegisHear will be conducted here in Miag-ao, Iloilo. This is a very good opportunity to hear the voices of our people,” said Cong. Janette Garin, deputy speaker.
The initiative gives communities a rare opportunity to directly communicate their experiences and recommendations to national leaders.
Around 20 national government agencies are expected to participate in the three-day event, combining legislative consultations with a government service caravan that will offer passport processing assistance, driver’s license services, labor and employment assistance, social welfare programs, migrant worker services, and tax-related transactions.
The consultations are expected to produce recommendations that could shape new legislation and amendments to outdated laws and implementing rules and regulations.
“If there are laws that need to be enacted, laws that have become outdated, or implementing rules and regulations that need to be amended, this will be a good venue to discuss them,” Garin said.
Among the issues that may be discussed are the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty measure, implementation concerns involving the Universal Health Care Act, anti-fake news measures, and governance issues affecting barangays and local government units.
“The purpose is not only to bring services closer to the people but also to ensure that lawmakers hear directly from communities and understand the realities they face every day,” Garin said.
The consultations are expected to strengthen public participation in governance while providing lawmakers with grassroots insights that could help shape more responsive and effective legislation./PN
