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Monday, June 02, 2003
Barangay officials say 'Lakbay Aral' a junket
By Gwen Posadas
DAVAO -- Barangay officials in Davao City demanded an explanation from the Liga ng mga Barangay and Barangay Community Affairs and Development (BCAD) office after what was supposed to be their five-day "lakbay aral (educational tour)" turned out to be purely a leisure trip.
The different barangay officials from the three districts of Davao left Davao City for Manila last May 25, supposedly to spend five days for learning and unwinding.
Allan Simoag, barangay chief of Lanang, who participated in the "lakbay-aral" said he was very disappointed and disgusted on the process and result of the activity sponsored by the local government.
"Dako kaayo nga blunder ang gihimo sa Liga ng mga Barangay og BCAD sa nahitabong lakbay aral, with the asumption nga ang mga barangay officials makatu-on," Simoag said. (The league of barangays and the BCAD made a very big blunder with the lakbay aral, with the assumption that the barangay officials will learn something.)
The itinerary of the more than 500 barangay officials who joined the lakbay aral include a visit to the Senate session hall to meet with Sen. Panfilo Lacson on the first day.
But a barangay official from Matina, who refused to be identified, said the exact time that they were supposed to meet Lacson was not followed. They waited for three hours for Lacson so other activities were canceled.
The barangay officals were also supposed to meet with House Rep. Imee Marcos and Gov. Bong-Bong Marcos but the two were not around during their visit to the Ilocos Norte Provincial Office.
The Matina barangay official added that they skipped their meals from 3 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day and were made to sleep inside buses due to unorganized planning by facilitators.
The much-awaited meeting with President Gloria Arroyo at Malacaņang on the last day of the activity failed to materialize.
It was learned that the Office of the President requires appointments to be set 15 days earlier. "Lakbay Aral" facilitators sent a communication letter only two days before they went to Malacaņang.
Simoag said he personally felt guilty that the city spent a big amount of money for the educational tour of barangay officials.
"Generally, na-konsensya gyud ko kay dako kaayo ang gi-spend sa city pero wala miy natun-an bisan usa," Simoag said. (Generally, I felt guilty because the city spent so much, and we did not learn anything.)
The barangay council of Lanang is planning to pass a resolution asking the City Council to investigate the organizers of the tour.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 11 also issued a memorandum to all barangay officials asking them to submit a report on the output of their "Lakbay Aral."
"Kinahanglan mi mag-pass og report sa (We need to pass a report to) DILG to determine the output on our lakbay aral," Simo-ag said.
Others officials brought their families and did not even not participate in the five-day activities.
"Purely junket trip! Lakbay (Travel) without aral (learning). Ang uban gidala pa ang pamilya. Nagmiting pa gyud nga dili dapat mogawas sa media kay ulaw," an official from Matina said. (Others even brought their family. Plus there was a meeting that what happened shouldn't be publicized to avoid embarrassment.)
The barangay officials were confused as to who to blame, the BCAD or Liga ng mga Barangay, for the mess. Sun.Star Davao
(June 2, 2003 issue)
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