CEBU, Philippines - To further strengthen transparency and accountability among local governing bodies, all barangays in Cebu City are urged to practice good governance by fully disclosing documents particularly on the utilization of public funds.
Councilor Alvin Dizon pushed a resolution enjoining all barangay chiefs in the city to strictly comply with the Full Disclosure Policy as embodied under the memorandum circular of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“The barangays are the front lines in local governance. We are respectfully requesting the barangays to follow the Full Disclosure Policy because if we want reforms in local governance, it should start at the barangay level,” said Dizon in an interview with reporters.
The city comprises 80 barangays, which are classified into two congressional districts: northern district, with 46 barangays; and southern district, with 34 barangays.
Dizon admitted there are barangays which do not follow the policy.
“I cannot say kun pila kabuok, but maybe it’s safe to say that majority of the barangays wala mo-comply aning Full Disclosure Policy,” he said.
“Sa akong pagtuyok-tuyok sa mga kabarangayan, wala man ko kakita nga naa’y nag-post sa ilang financial statements, financial records nga maoy requirement sa Full Disclosure Policy,” he added.
In his resolution, Dizon said barangays, being the basic political unit in local governance, must be reminded to continuously adhere to the requirements of DILG’s Memorandum Circular No. 2010-83 entitled “Full Disclosure of Local Budget and Finances, and Bids and Public Offerings” issued on August 31, 2010.
Dizon recalled that the full enforcement of the written reminder was during the time of the late DILG secretary Jesse Robredo five years ago.
Dizon mentioned the constitutional mandate under Section 1 of Article 11, which states that “public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”
With this, he also called on the Association of Barangay Councils and Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines to be at the forefront of the crusade for good governance practices at the grassroots level.
“They are the leads. The City Council is enjoining the two organizations to help us disseminate the information and help us implement the Full Disclosure Policy,” the councilor added. — May B. Miasco/NSA (FREEMAN)