REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8553, February 25, 1998

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8553, February 25, 1998 ]

AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 41(B) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 41(b) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"(b) The regular members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and sangguniang bayan shall be elected by district as follows:

"First and second-class provinces shall have ten (10) regular members; third and fourth-class provinces, eight (8); and fifth and sixth-class provinces, six (6): Provided, That in provinces having more than five (5) legislative districts, each district shall have two (2) sangguniang panlalawigan members, without prejudice to the provisions of Section 2 of Republic Act No. 6637. Sangguniang barangay members shall be elected at large. The presidents of the leagues of sanggunian members of component cities and municipalities shall serve as ex officio members of the sangguniang panlalawigan concerned. The presidents of the liga ng mga barangay and the pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan elected by their respective chapters, as provided in this Code, shall serve as ex officio members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and sangguniang bayan."

SEC. 2. Upon the petition of the provincial board, the election for any additional regular member to the sangguniang panlalawigan as provided for under this Act, shall be held not earlier than six (6) months after the May 11, 1998 national and local elections.

SEC. 3. The Commission on Elections shall issue appropriate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, administrative regulations, or part or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect upon publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.) NEPTALI A. GONZALES

(Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA JR.

President of the Senate

Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 10479 and Senate Bill No. 2465 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 13, 1998 and February 6, 1998, respectively.

(Sgd.) HEZEL P. GACUTAN

(Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO

Secretary of the Senate

Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: February 25, 1998.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS President of the Philippines