DILG spearheads barangay assemblies in Central Visayas

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Interior and Local Government-7 has conducted synchronized barangay assemblies in Central Visayas to strengthen the citizens’ participation in barangay governance.

During the assembly, barangay officials laid out their accomplishments for the first semester that covers the period of January to June this year.   This also includes the barangay’s financial report, compliance to full disclosure policy, and discussions on promoting and sustaining barangay good governance.

Part of the assembly included the orientation of the Ugnayang Barangay at Simbahan, a collaborative program of the government and the inter-faith organizations that helps in promoting sustainable barangay good governance, particularly projects under the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process .

“This is part of the mandate of the secretary Mar Roxas, there should be a barangay assembly aron mahibalo ang mga tao sa accomplishments sa ilang barangay,” said Kym Albrando, DILG Information Officer.

Section 3 of Republic Act 7160 of the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, also provides that “Effective mechanisms for ensuring the accountability of local government units to their respective constituents shall be strengthened in order to upgrade continually the quality of local leadership.”

The assembly is also seen as a good venue for the residents to air their issues and concerns which may have been overlooked by the barangay officials.

Likewise, the barangay officials are also mandated to discuss issues affecting their barangays like disaster preparedness, solid waste management, illegal drugs, human trafficking and the implementation of existing laws and ordinances.

To give emphasis on the gravity of the activity, current regulations permit any resident of the barangay, concerned citizen, government organization or an NGO to file an administrative complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman, the City Council, or the Municipal Council against barangay officials who fail to convene the barangay assembly as directed. —/ATO (FREEMAN)