Amidst brewing deliberations over the postponement of the barangay elections and the possible holdover by current barangay officials, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reminds village chiefs to conduct barangay assembly on October 8, or else face sanctions.
“Barangay officials who fail to conduct a barangay assembly may face corresponding administrative complaints be which can be filed by any resident of the barangay, concerned citizen, governmental or non-governmental entity before the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan concerned,” says DILG Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Catalino S. Cuy in his memorandum circular to punong barangays nationwide.
He says that residents should not be afraid to report to higher authorities because “it is a legal action pursuant to Section 61 of Republic Act No. 7160 or Local Government Code and to Administrative Order No. 07 or the Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman.”
City and municipal mayors are also not off the hook as they prodded by the DILG OIC to ensure compliance and maximum participation of all barangay officials in their respective jurisdictions.
The Local Government Code mandates that “the barangay assembly shall meet at least twice a year to hear and discuss the semestral report of the barangay concerning its activities and finances as well as problems affecting the barangay.”
According to the DILG National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO), the theme of the barangay assembly day for the second semester of the year is “Nagkakaisang Barangay: Lakas ng Kampanya Kontra sa Iligal na Droga, Krimen at Katiwalian. Makiisa! Makilahok! Makialam!”
To showcase well-performing barangays in line with the said theme, the DILG has directed city and municipal mayors to identify one barangay in their respective jurisdictions that has revitalized Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) particularly those with Committees on Operations and Advocacy and BADAC Auxiliary Team.
These outstanding barangays must have also established MASA MASID (Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga) Team and have allocated a substantial portion of their annual budget for anti-illegal drugs programs, projects and activities.
In addition, they ought to have organized house clusters, established Rehabilitation Referral Desk with designated duty officer, and are not included in the list of drug affected barangays of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
DILG NBOO announces that the names of the ‘showcase barangays’ should be submitted to them not later than September 30, 2017.###
