Davao City to review barangay fees

CITY Hall still has to check on barangay ordinances to see if any of these impose collection of fees that go against national laws, Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte said.

"As soon as we receive complaints we will refer it to the City Council," Duterte added.

Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo ordered a review of barangay ordinances following complaints of excessive fees imposed by some villages.

The review will ensure that all fees collected in barangays are not excessive, unjust, and laws allowing them have gone through proper public consultations before it is being implemented, Robrido said.

He added mayors should ensure that all barangays in the country are imposing taxing powers based on the residents' capacity to pay.

In line with this, Davao City councilor Emmanuel Galicia is helping initiate seminars for barangay officials on how to dispense with their functions.

Galicia has already conducted several whole-day sessions in different barangays across the City.

Among the topics discussed were the taxing power of the barangays, responsibility of barangay officials, and how to mediate conflicts arising in their respective localities.

"Pag kabalo sila mas epektibo sila sa ilang mga trabaho (barangay officials who know their functions can perform better) as public officials," Galicia said in an interview last week.

The councilor also noted that most of today's barangay officials are neophytes and thus, he said, these public officials should be oriented on basic procedures that are essential in running and administrating barangay.