DILG: Staff helped in assembly, but did not push People's Initiative

The Department of the Interior and Local Government regional office yesterday denied talks it had a hand in moves to amend the Constitution.

Newly appointed DILG 7 regional director Atty. Rene Burdeos yesterday told The Freeman he was surprised to have heard of complaints against the office's participation in such activities when it is supposed to be non-partisan.

Burdeos said there could have been miscommunication between DILG personnel and local chief executives.

He clarified that DILG municipal officers are mandated by law to perform secretarial services to the Association of Barangay Councils and that his staff's efforts to provide such services during the holding of the barangay assemblies last Saturday must have been mistaken as leading the move to get people to sign the People's Initiative forms needed to support petition to directly amend the Constitution.

"Probably they were misunderstood. Basin gihangyo lang sad sila sa barangay," he admittedly said.

Burdeos said he already called the attention of the DILG personnel concerned and asked them to explain. All of them, he said, including DILG Cebu City director Patricio Gabuya, denied pushing for the People's Initiative.

He added that Gabuya further explained that the ABC-Cebu City OIC officials sought the help of DILG Cebu City on how to hold a barangay assembly since they were just appointed by Liga ng nga Barangay to take over the posts temporarily vacated by ABC officials who were suspended.

Burdeos explained that the holding of a barangay assembly is in compliance with the Local Government Code and Presidential Proclamation No. 342 issued in 2003, which mandates the holding of such activity every fourth Saturday of March and every third Saturday of October "for the purpose of, among others, for the barangay council to render report to the barangay residents, to discuss matters of local and national concern and matters concerning environment protection."

He said the Memorandum Circular he received from the DILG central office last February was just to remind all DILG regional directors of the PP No. 342, adding that the role of DILG is to facilitate the conduct of barangay assemblies. - Cristina C. Birondo