FOR his first project, reelected Liga ng mga Barangay president Yan Lam Lim said he wants to win the hearts of all the 80 barangay captains in Cagayan de Oro.
In an interview, Lim, who got 46 votes during the elections, said he plans to increase this figure by getting the remaining 34 votes that his opponent Conrad Lim got.
"We are already more than 46 barangay captains supporting this administration, the others already expressed their intention to transfer. We will reach out to them, the important thing is, we will all be united so that we will have one voice," Lim said.
"Daghan na kaayo gaparamdam gyud after sa election, naay nangayog pasaylo nga wala ko nasuportahi, pero ako limtan na, ato is magtinabangay aron para sa kauswagan sa atong syudad ug barangay (Many are already reaching out, asking for my forgiveness because they did not vote, but let's forget it, we will focus on helping each other to move forward)," he said.
City Mayor Oscar Moreno has earlier issued an executive order creating an office for community affairs in an aim to achieve a sustainable collaboration between the barangays and the city government.
Moreno said there is a need to enhance and expand the services being delivered to the barangays and to address their concerns immediately.
The new office holds under its jurisdiction the Barangay Assistance Center, and will be headed by Oliver Egypto, as the City Barangay Coordinator.
Moreno also designated Patrick Gabutina as the executive officer.
Egypto said the Community Affairs Office (CAO) has four functions, namely: to undertake and facilitate all barangay concerns; promote and strengthen its coordination with the Association of Barangay Council (ABC), the city hall bureaucracy, among others; to closely monitor barangay concerns through information management; and, provide quick response and support to barangays.
"This is a big challenge for us, but this is a very big step for the city government, kini nga opisina mahimong dangpanan sa tanang concerns sa tagsa-tagsa ka mga barangay (this office will be the center of all barangay concerns)," Egypto said.
As defined by the executive order, the City Barangay Coordinator shall exercise supervision and control over the office and ensure that they are aligned with the efforts of the local chief executive.
He shall also adopt and implement appropriate and responsive policies to enhance the relationship between the city and barangay governments, and he is directed to work closely with the ABC Federation President, SK Federation President, and national government agencies for the empowerment of the barangays in the city.