by Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA
MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday reminded barangay (village) officials to report their accomplishments to their constituents during the conduct of their respective Barangay Assembly this month.
“Walong buwan na po mula nang mahalal kayo ng inyong mga botante. Sana po’y meron na kayong makabuluhang naisakatuparang programa, proyekto o ordinansa at mga planong iuulat ninyo sa inyong komunidad (It’s been eight months since you were elected [in the May 2018 polls]. I hope that you have already accomplished significant programs, projects and ordinances, as well as made plans that you will report to the community),” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.
Año also encouraged village chiefs to deliver their State of the Barangay Address (SOBA), highlighting their accomplishments and financial report for the second semester of 2018, newly-enacted barangay ordinances, and their plans, programs and projects for 2019.
Barangay executives were also urged to discuss barangay compliance with national laws and issuances, such as the functionality of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACS), the segregation and collection of solid wastes and the creation of a Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Committee (BESWMC), observance of the Barangay Full Disclosure Policy, and registration of domestic workers in the Registry of Domestic Workers in the barangay, as ordered by Batas Kasambahay.
Moreover, village chiefs were encouraged to report on the constitution and organization of barangay-based institutions — the Barangay Development Council (BDC), Barangay Peace and Order Committee (BPOC), Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee, Lupong Tagapamayapa, Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), and Violence against Women (VAW) Desk.
“For barangays within the Manila Bay Watershed Area, they are prodded to urge their barangay residents to participate in cleanup drive of esteros, waterways and tributaries within the barangay,” Año said in Memorandum Circular (MC) 2019-32.
He pointed out that a corresponding administrative complaint may be filed against barangay officials who fail to conduct a barangay assembly, by any resident of the barangay, concerned citizen, governmental or non-governmental entity before the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan (City or Municipal Council) concerned, pursuant to Section 61 of the Local Government Code or to the Office of the Ombudsman pursuant to Administrative Order 7 or the “Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman”, dated April 10, 1990.
According to the DILG National Barangay Operations Office, 40,613 or 96.61 percent of 42,029 barangays nationwide conducted Barangay Assembly in October 2018.
The holding of a Barangay Assembly every March and October is mandated by Section 397 of the Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act (RA) 7160.
The law requires that there shall be a Barangay Assembly composed of all persons, who are actual residents of the barangay for at least six months, at least 15 years of age, citizens of the Philippines, and duly registered in the list of barangay assembly members.
The theme of the Barangay Assembly Day for the first semester of 2019 to be conducted on any of the Saturdays or Sundays of this month is “Barangay Natin, Sama-Samang Paunlarin!”
The DILG issues a memo circular every semester to remind barangay chairpersons on the conduct of the Barangay Assembly Day. In the past years, the specific dates in March and October, as to when the barangays are expected to conduct their respective barangay assemblies, were set by the memo circular issued by the department.
But in October last year, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 599 declaring Saturdays and Sundays of March and October of every year as Barangay Assembly Days. All barangays in the country must hold their respective barangay assemblies for each semester on any of these days.
To increase attendance and reach a wider audience for Barangay Assemblies, the DILG chief urged barangay officials to use social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter, to inform and remind the residents of the activity.
He has directed DILG field offices to promote among barangays the use of live streaming of Barangay Assembly, through Facebook Live, and to post pictures and videos of the assembly on social media using the hashtag #barangayassembly2019.
