The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has recognized 24 outstanding barangay justice committees or lupong tagapamayapa for their excellent performance in settling neighborhood disputes during the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA) ceremony held recently at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.
Speaking during the awarding rites, DILG Officer-in- Charge Catalino S. Cuy said he commends the LTIA winners for their conscientious efforts to facilitate the amicable settlement of neighborhood clashes which could have added more to court dockets had such cases been filed in regular courts.
“Mediation, conciliation and arbitration take a lot of wisdom, patience and understanding and I laud our lupon winners for possessing these qualities in actively and diligently working for the speedy administration of justice at the barangay level,” says Cuy.
Declared as Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa for 2017 are Brgy. Buhangin Proper, Buhangin District, Davao City (highly urbanized cities category); Barangay 1, San Lorenzo in Laoag City (component cities category); Brgy Can-upao, Jagna, Bohol (1 st to third class municipalities); and Brgy Hingatungan, Silago, Southern Leyte (4 th to 6 th class municipalities category).
First and second runner-up winners in their respective categories are: (Highly Urbanized Cities) Brgy. Calumpang Molo, Iloilo City and Brgy. Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City; (Component Cities Category) Brgy. Milibili, Roxas City, Capiz and Brgy. Cupang Proper, Balanga City, Bataan; (1st- 3rd Class Municipality Category) Brgy. Igbonglo, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique and Brgy. Calube, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte; (4th-6 th Class Municipalities Category) Brgy. Libertad, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte and Barangay Umabay Exterior, Mobo, Masbate.
For 2016, the Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa are Brgy. Adlaon, Cebu City (highly urbanized cities category); Barangay 1, San Lorenzo in Laoag City (component cities category); Brgy Can-upao, Jagna, Bohol (1 st to third class municipalities); and Brgy Hingatungan, Silago, Southern Leyte (4 th to 6 th class municipalities category).
First and second runner-up winners in their respective categories are: (Highly Urbanized Cities) Brgy. Calumpang Molo, Iloilo City and Brgy. City Heights, General Santos City; (Component Cities Category) Brgy. Dagupan Centro, Tabuk City, Kalinga and Brgy. Kalasungay, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; (1st- 3rd Class Municipality Category) Brgy. Igbonglo, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique and Brgy. Tuding, Itogon, Benguet; (4th-6 th Class Municipalities Category) Brgy. Poblacion, Sapad, Lanao del Norte and Brgy. Bataan, Sampaloc, Quezon.
The lupons of Brgy. 1 San Lorenzo, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and Brgy. Hingatungan, Silago, Southern Leyte each received a Hall of Fame Award for bagging the LTIA National Award in the Component Cities and 4 th to 6 th Class Municipalities Categories, for three consecutive years, respectively.
Each of the national winners received a cash award of P300,000 and a trophy, the first runners-up were given a cash award of P150,000 and a plaque, and the second runners-up bagged P100,000 each and a plaque. On the other hand, the Hall of Famers got an additional cash award of P300,000.
The LTIA, established pursuant to Executive Order 394 in 1997, aims to institutionalize a system of granting economic benefits to outstanding lupons, strengthen the Katarungang Pambarangay as an indigenous conflict resolution structure at the grassroots, and generate awareness and support on the KP as a potent vehicle toward social order and human development.
The winners were chosen by an interagency Board of Judges organized by the National Awards Committee on the basis of the following criteria: efficiency in operation; effectiveness in securing the objectives of the Katarungang Pambarangay program; creativity and resourcefulness of the lupon; area or facility for KP activities; and financial or non-financial support.
Go to the Lupon first
Cuy urges the public not to file a case in court against their neighbors whom they had a squabble with just yet. Instead, he says they should seek the assistance of the Lupong Tagapamayapa in their respective barangays to intercede and try to settle their altercations.
“Let us trust the justice system in our barangays. Instead of going directly to the courts, there is a Lupong Tagapamayapa in every barangay to help you find an amicable settlement for your neighborhood quarrels,” says Cuy.
The DILG OIC says all disputes, civil and criminal in nature, where parties actually reside in the same city or municipality are subjected to proceedings of amicable settlement.
Among the cases that can be handled by the lupong tagapamayapa are the following: alarms and scandals; less serious physical injuries; slight physical injuries and maltreatment; unlawful arrest; light and grave coercion; simple seduction; issuing checks without sufficient funds; removal, sale or pledge of mortgaged property; and qualified trespass to dwelling (without use of violence and intimidation).
Created by virtue of Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, the Lupong Tagapamayapa is composed of the punong barangay as chairman and 10 to 20 members who are residing or working in the barangay, are not otherwise expressly disqualified by law, and possessing integrity, impartiality, independence of mind, sense of fairness, and reputation for probity. (DILG)
