Hiring of female tanods encouraged

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) highly encourages the recruitment of women as barangay tanods for gender equality.

DILG recently released an omnibus policy on the administration and strengthening capacities of barangay tanods as agents of peace and development. DILG stressed that building a strong republic starts at the community level.

“As such, reinforcing the capability of Barangay Tanods is an utmost concern. Being on the frontline in fighting lawlessness, crimes, and even terrorism, empowering and professionalizing the Barangay Tanods will strengthen community-based mechanisms and citizens involvement in the government's initiatives to ensure peace and safety,” part of the memo signed by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos reads.

The Punong Barangay appoints the tanods upon recommendation of the Barangay Peace and Order Committee (BPOC).The LGC provides a maximum of twenty (20) tanods in each barangay.

The punong barangay also supervises and designate a Chief Tanod/Executive Officer among them to head the group. They can be organized into teams.

Under the newly-released guidelines, a barangay tanod has to be a Filipino citizen and is at least 18 but not more than 70 years old, a resident of the barangay where he is appointed, can read and write, of good moral character and physically and mentally fit.

Retired government employees, police, or military personnel/officers maybe appointed as Barangay Tanod. Exemptions may be granted to barangays where there is a lack of qualified volunteers. More to it, DILG also emphasized the recruitment of women to serve as barangay tanod. This is to promote gender equality, women empowerment, and participation.

It had been stressed that “recruitment should not be discriminatory as to the gender and sexuality of the volunteer”.

The roles of the tanods have also been defined and on handling complaints involving women and children, female tanods are preferred to handle it.

As female tanods, they are to respond to gender-based violence cases brought to the barangay; assess the situation and determine present and possible risks, get the necessary information and secure the victim in safe places.

In case of violence against women and children or VAWC, the victims are also to be informed of their victim-survivor rights, along with the solutions and remedies available and assist them in securing a barangay protection order.

Aside from that though, barangay tanods have many other roles to play from maintaining peace and order, assisting in emergencies and disasters and other health situation.

Along with this, DILG also stressed, the capacity building for tanods to make them more efficient in their roles. — (FREEMAN)