Have you observed local councilors or legislators who are very impatient to talk in your respective Sanggunian Barangays? Noticed a time when the Chairman is pestered with notes of permission to speak? And whenever permission is given, the speaker generally exceeds the time-limit, asks for more time, and keeps on talking wihout permission?

Hello, this is Prof. Soc del Rosario, author of Sangguniang Barangay Sessions and Meetings Made Fast and Easy. Here to share with you advice and nuggets of information on how to handle sangguiang barangay sessions and meetings.

A sanggunian member must FIRST SEEK FORMAL RECOGNITION from the Presiding Officer/Chair before speaking.

The methods to obtain the floor may be done by:

• Raising hands;
• Standing-up;
• By saying, “Mr. Chairman/Madam Chair, may I have the floor?”;
• By a combination of any of the above procedures.

Parliamentary rules dictate that if two or more members seek recognition, the Presiding Chairman shall be guided by the following rules:

1. The proponent (author of the motion) should be given priority to speak first;
2. The sangguniang barangay member who has not spoken on an immediate pending question has priority over one who has already spoken on it;
3. The Presiding Chairman should give equal opportunity to all sangguniang barangay members to speak out their views on either side of the issue;
4. All matters being equal, the sanggunian member who seldom speaks is given preference; and
5. A non-speaking member must be encouraged by the Presiding Chair to participate and speak.

It was John Maxwell who said “To reach the highest level of effectiveness, you have to raise the lid of leadership ability.” May it remind us to strive and do our best in every session for the benefit of our collective community.

Learn more about how to handle Sangguniang Barangay Sessions and Meetings with ease and promptness.