DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año has reminded all the barangay officials of their responsibility to conduct a barangay assembly and report their accomplishments and plans to their constituents.
Año said barangay officials are mandated by Section 397 of the Local Government Code of 1991 or the Republic Act No. 7160 to hold a barangay assembly every March and October.
Village chiefs are expected to deliver their State of Barangay Address during these assemblies to highlight their accomplishments and financial reports as well as report on the newly-enacted barangay ordinances and plans, programs and projects for the year.
“Walong buwan na po mula nang mahalal kayo ng inyong mga botante. Sana po’y meron na kayong makabuluhang naisakatuparang programa, proyekto o ordinansa at mga planong iuulat ninyo sa inyong komunidad,” said Año.
(It has been eight months since you got elected to office. Hopefully, you have implemented programs, projects or ordinances which you can report to your community.)
He said they are also encouraged to report barangay compliance to national laws and issuances such as the functionality of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (Badac), the segregation and collection of solid wastes and the creation of Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Committee (BESWMC), observance of Barangay Full Disclosure Policy, and registration of domestic workers in the Registry of Domestic Workers in the barangay as ordered by Batas Kasambahay.
Año said they are also expected to discuss the constitution and organization of barangay-based institutions namely the Barangay Development Council (BDC), Barangay Peace and Order Committee (BPOC), Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Committee, Lupong Tagapamayapa, Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), and Violence against Women (VAW) Desk.
Those who are allowed to attend the said assembly are the residents of the barangay for at least six months, 15 years old and above, citizens of the Philippines and duly registered in the list of barangay assembly members.
Under Proclamation No. 599 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in October 2018, Saturdays and Sundays of March and October of every year have been designated as barangay assembly days.
Año also urged the local executives to make use of social media to reach more people during their assembly.
He said they can go live on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #barangayassembly2019 while delivering their reports.
Año warned barangay officials who will fail to conduct such annual assembly that they may face administrative charges which may be filed by any resident of the barangay, concerned citizen and governmental or non-governmental entity before the concerned Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan. (SunStar Philippines)