MANILA, Philippines — Barangay officials should be empowered as they play a key role in local governance, former Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. said yesterday.
“They are the local government’s front-liners when it comes to the delivery of basic services as well as maintaining peace and order in the community,” he said in a statement.
Binay, who is running for mayor in the 2019 midterm elections, said the role of barangay leaders should be maximized to make them more effective.
“We rely on them to implement the programs the local goverment,” he said.
The barangay is the basic political unit and serves as the lead implementor local government projects, according to Binay.
Twenty-one of the 33 barangay chairmen in Makati have expressed their support for Binay’s candidacy.
Mario Montanez, chairman of Barangay Bangkal, said they had a good working relationship with Binay when he was mayor.