'Bistek' dares QC barangays to do more

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista   Photo Credit: Manila Standard

QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista is challenging the city’s 142 barangays not just to be content in meeting certain standards, but aim to exceed their targets or goals for the greater benefit of the people, as he expressed his intention to increase the incentives to the winners of the barangay Seal of Good Housekeeping awards.

Bautista said he is “ecstatic” to see the eagerness of many barangay officials in improving the services and programs they offer to their communities.

“Let us make the top prize P1 million per category. But wait, I think that is still quite small. Let us make it P2 million, while the next will get P1.5 million, to be followed by the third at P1 million, to motivate all barangay officials to do more,” he said at the 22nd Barangay Day celebration.

The event sees awards handed out to the winners of the Barangay Seal of Good Housekeeping, an initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government that recognizes the contributions and efforts of the barangays in Quezon City in achieving good governance.

“In the earlier years, we were just celebrating Barangay Day. Then we decided to give due recognition. We handed out awards under the Seal of Good Housekeeping of the DILG to elevate local governance at the barangay level,” Bautista said.

He called on the barangays to help the city government collect taxes and fees as they monitor commercial activities in their areas.

“If you see somebody building a house without any permit, go tell City Hall because they need to secure a building permit. You are our eyes and ears on the ground, so please tell us what’s happening in our communities,” he said.

“I implore the barangays, let’s do our part, let’s do our share in achieving good governance for our city. It is a major challenge for us. We are still and will always be the premier city of the Philippines. We won’t achieve this if we are divided.” (Manila Standard)