THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Davao Region has intensified its information drive to inspire the public to choose only the best barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates in the May 14 elections.
DILG assistant regional director Wilhelm Suyko, during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at The Annex of SM City Davao Monday, April 9, said the agency has come up with a list of qualities of a good official as a guide for voters.
Suyko, quoting DILG 11 regional director Alex Roldan, said the agency has been encouraging the public to vote barangay and SK officials who are “matino (sane), mahusay (excellent), and maaasahan (reliable)” in public service.
Suyko said these three qualities are needed to push for a clean, honest, and excellently governed barangays onwards.
"A sane barangay and SK official is not corrupt. Lumalaban sa katiwalian, lumalaban sa illegal drugs, tapat sa serbisyo at bukas sa publiko, magaling, may disiplina at walang kaugnayan sa masasamang tao," Suyko said.
Suyko also said that an excellent barangay and SK official has good records and platforms that focus on peace and development, who sets good example to his fellowmen, a law-abiding citizen, kind and fair.
"For maaasahan, ito yung may maalam at kakayahan sa pagpaplano, alistong tumutulong sa panahon ng sakuna, nag mamalasakit sa kapwa, madaling malapitan sa oras ng pangangailangan, at subok sa pagtulong sa kapwa," he added.
Suyko said the barangays, as a forefront of the government service, should be committed to the administration.
The national government needs barangay officials who are committed to reform in the barangay level especially with President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against corruption, illegal drugs, and criminality, according to the DILG director.