WITH the possible postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, rationalization of barangays in Baguio City is being pushed.
While the Congress deliberates in the postponement, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said there will be more time for the merging of barangays in the city in order to abide with the local government rule that each barangay should have at least 5,000 inhabitants.
Merging the 128 barangays to only 44 barangays were proposed to bring more Internal Revenue Allotment to each barangay for better public service.
Domogan however stressed there is no need for the abolishment of the barangay kagawads but instead they must be strengthened with the merging of barangays.
“Hindi naman lahat ng barangay kagawad ay tamad, as far as the city is concerned masisipag ang ating mga officials. The problem there is they have small honorarium kaya kahit gusto nilang magtrabaho ng maigi they cannot do a lot kasi they have a limited budget,” Domogan stated.
Merging of barangays will also increase the honorarium or salary of the Kagawads which are currently receiving a salary grade 10.
Meanwhile, Association of Barangay Councils - Baguio president Michael Lawana told Sun*Star Baguio rationalizing barangays will be his first priority upon the postponement of the elections.
“We will prioritize the merging of barangays kasi wala na tayong magagawa kapag nag-bigay na ng order ang DILG. The first thing that we will do is to talk with the DILG muna then we will push for it at the City council. It’s better to start early kasi sooner or later kapag nakita iyan ng DILG they will order us to follow the rule,” Lawana stated.
Lawana added bigger coverage but higher pay awaits barangay officials in the merging of barangays but feared if the elections will push through, ongoing projects may not be finished and the pending barangay reformed bill may not be passed.