The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified that its legal opinion limiting the powers of vice mayors is only advisory and cannot be imposed on local government units.
DILG Palawan Provincial Director Myla Panganiban said Legal Opinion No. 95-2025 may guide vice local chief executives and local legislators, but it does not carry the same force as a law.
The opinion, which states that vice mayors’ functions are limited to serving as presiding officers during council sessions, has raised concerns among local legislators in Palawan. It was recently discussed during a regular session of the Puerto Princesa City Council.
Panganiban said Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, remains the governing law.
“And sa amin naman, ang pinaka-main concern ng mga vice mayor is ini-impose daw ng DILG iyong legal opinion. Actually, we are not enforcing it to them,” she said in an interview.
“Ang legal opinion ay may persuasive effect, but hindi siya katulad ng mga batas na enforceable sa lahat ng LGUs. So, itong legal opinion na ito was a result of a query from a particular stakeholder,” she added.
Panganiban said the DILG would refer to the legal opinion if asked for its position on the issue. However, vice mayors may decide whether to follow it.
“It’s up to the Vice Mayors’ League kung anong gagawin nila doon sa decision na iyon. If they will follow it in good faith, then so be it. But if not, then it’s their choice,” she said.
She advised members of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP) Palawan Chapter to include their concerns in resolutions and forward them to DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla and the league’s national leadership.
During its third quarterly meeting, the VMLP Palawan Chapter adopted two resolutions concerning Legal Opinion No. 95-2025.
One resolution asked Remulla to provide further clarification on the opinion. The other called on the VMLP national leadership to seek redress from the DILG.
