The search for Best Performing Lupon

THE evaluation for the Search for the Best Performing Lupon Tagapamayapa dubbed as the Lupon Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA) started last February 19, 2013. The evaluating team is composed of five members, with the City Director Evelyn Trinidad representing the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Baguio (DILG), Atty. Ruth Bernabe representing the Office of the City Prosecutor, Atty. Eleonora Tabdi representing the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), Mr. Alberto Tomas representing the City Mayor’s Office, and the Office of Hon. Joel Alangsab, with the Special Services Division-City Mayor’s Office as the secretariat.

This year’s search is focused in evaluating the performance of the participating barangays for the calendar year 2012. There are 24 contending barangays including 2011 LTIA winner Irisan Barangay headed by PB Thomas Dumalti. 2010 LTIA winner Imelda Village Barangay headed by PB Arturo Rapelo is likewise contending for this year’s search. The 24 participating barangays are: Pinsao Proper Barangay, Leonila Hill Barangay, Imelda Village Barangay, Pinget Barangay, Alfonso Tabora Barangay, Pinsao Pilot Barangay, Middle Quirino Hill Barangay, Lourdes Subdivision Extension Barangay, Loakan Proper Barangay, Andres Bonifacio Barangay, Fairview Barangay, Upper QM Barangay, Bakakeng Central Barangay, Upper Rock Quarry, Pacdal Barangay, Quezon Hill Proper Barangay, Brookspoint, Middle Quezon Hill Barangay, Lower Rock Quarry, Sto. Niño Slaughterhouse Compound Barangay, Holyghost Barangay, Irisan and Gibraltar Barangay.

Hon. Joel Alangsab, Liga President and City Councilor expressed that the search, being institutionalized has been a good program not only to recognize the barangays who are performing but to serve as a learning experience for the participating barangays to enable them to correct the procedures which they might have misapplied and to continue with their efforts in the areas wherein they are doing well. This is not only for the benefit of the barangay officials, but more importantly for the constituents who seek the assistance of the barangay through the lupon in settling disputes which could be heard within the barangay level.

The Katarungang Pambarangay is a mandate of the barangay, most importantly the punong barangays who serve as the lupon chairman. One chapter of the Local Government Code of 1991 has been allotted for the Katarungang Pambarangay, specifically starting from Section 399 and ending in Section 422. As provided under the law, there must be 10 to 20 members. Hon. Alangsab added that these members must be commended as most of them are extending their time and services on voluntary basis, and not receiving any honoraria or other forms of incentives. While there are some barangays who could allot a portion of their annual budget for the lupon members, it is very minimal considering the numerous services and mandatory programs which the barangay have to allot the fund to.

The evaluating team is focusing not only on the proper filing of documents, referrals and the entire documentation package, but has extended more time in looking into the procedures undertaken by the barangay, including the proper observance of the period as provided for by law. Only through looking into the procedures employed by the barangay can the evaluating team validly assess that the barangay have effectively settled a case or efficiently handled the course of proceedings.

The evaluation of the participating barangays will be until February 28 as the DILG Baguio Office is required to submit the results to the DILG Regional Office for the city to be able to take part in the National LTIA. The members of the evaluating team hopes that the winning barangay in this year’s LTIA will be competent and competitive so as to earn a national award for the city.