THE president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in the city yesterday
expressed apprehensions over the possibility of the government arming
barangay officials, pointing out that it was a serious matter.
“Allowing barangay officials to possess firearms is not a joke,” said Councilor Yan Lam Lim.
A Roman Catholic priest and a ranking police official at Camp Alagar
also expressed apprehensions, saying that the plan of the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG) to arm barangay officials can be
abused.
Although, he did not question the DILG’s order, Lim said strict
regulations and rules should be in place before the government allows
barangay officials to arm themselves.
He said those who would be armed
should undergo proper trainings, seminars and orientations, and everyone
should be subjected to background checks and psychological examination.
He said he was also worried that the guns would be used for illegal activities.
But Lim said organized barangay officials in the city would likely
issue an “expression of support” to the DILG plan because the village
officials think they need guns for protection against criminals.
Personally, said Lim, he is in favor of the plan but stressed the need for strict rules and regulations.
Msgr. Rey Monsanto, vicar general of the Roman Catholic archdiocese
in Cagayan de Oro, frowned over the DILG plan, adding that some people
tend to become abusive and dangerous when armed.
Monsanto also pointed out that many barangay officials have been
linked to “narco politics,” and arming them would only give law
enforcers more headaches.
Supt. Surki Sereñas, police spokesman for northern Mindanao, said he
was also worried that abuses involving barangay officials would
increase.
But Sereñas said he trusts that the DILG would come out with measures to avoid abuses.
He pointed out that there are many requirements before a citizen can secure a permit to own a gun.
He said said the move of the DILG is welcome but the government should be strict. (Joey Nacalaban/Lito Rulona)
Source of news: Mindanao Gold Star Daily
Photo credit: Cagayan de Oro News
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An official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) on Wednesday warned barangay officials to refrain from engaging
in partisan politics and favoring certain candidates in next year’s
mid-term elections.
“You cannot bar local candidates from entering and organizing in your
local communities,” DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin
Diño said during the first Provincial Anti-Crime and Peace and Order
Forum in Pangasinan.
He cited Section 389 (Duties and Functions of Barangay Officials) of
Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, and
reminded them of their role to promote the general welfare of the
barangay and enforce all laws and regulations.
Diño also issued a stern warning to all local barangay officials that
he will not hesitate to suspend and remove barangay captains who refuse
assistance from national and provincial government offices.
“You (barangay captains and officials) cannot prevent the delivery of
goods and services coming from the national and provincial
government(s) in your respective communities because of personal
political considerations. All I need is a formal written complaint from
your constituents. I will ask the barangay captain concerned to explain
to me within 72 hours why he or she refused to accept assistance from
the national or local government offices,” he said.
The DILG official was reacting to reports that certain barangay
captains have refused assistance from national and provincial agencies
for their communities.
Diño reminded them that they are persons in authority and that they
should not be beholden to their governor, congressmen or mayors,
especially in the enforcement of all laws, without fear or favor from
local officials.
In a statement, Diño told the barangay execs that he will suspend
immediately barangay captains who failed to establish functional
Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC), submit an inventory of
barangay office equipment, and liquidate funds.
He cited the continuing practice of issuing mere certifications in the liquidation of barangay funds.
He also cited the important and crucial role of barangay officials in protecting the environment.
“You are the front-liners in the delivery of government services in
your communities. The DILG will establish barangay councils for the
protection of our natural resources,” Diño said.
He also informed them that he will strengthen the gathering and
dissemination of information by creating barangay intelligence and
information offices.
He rallied all barangay execs in advocating for the passage of the
long-overdue Magna Carta for Barangay Officials, which was proposed by
then senator Nene Pimentel during the 14th Congress.
Under the proposed bill, all barangay officials will receive fix
salaries and benefits from the national government. For instance, all
Punong Barangays will now receive a fixed salary equivalent to that of a
regular Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal) council member or approximately
PHP40,000; the Barangay Kagawads will receive 80 percent or PHP40,000;
SK chairpersons will receive 75 percent or PHP35,000 including, but not
limited to, medical benefits and insurance.
Source of news: PTV News
Photo credit, image of DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin
Diño : gmanetwork.com
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As one of the highlights of the National Children’s Month
Celebration, the City Government of Naga delivered the State of Our
Children Report (SOCR) and Awarding of the 2018 Search for Most
Child-Friendly Barangay Awards, Nov. 27 at the Avenue Convention Plaza,
here.
This is consistent with Ordinance No. 2014-072 sponsored by City
Councilor and Naga City Council for the Welfare and Protection of
Children (NCCWPC) Co-Chairman Elmer S. Baldemoro, which strengthens the
Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPC) in the 27
Barangays of the City of Naga by providing incentives through the
institutionalization of the Most-Child Friendly Barangay Awards. The
search was conducted from October 22 - 30, 2018.
Topping the award is Barangay Abella with a rating of 96.40%,
followed by Brgy. Sabang, 2nd Place with a rating of 96%; Brgy. Carolina
- 3rd Place with a rating of 94.10%; Brgy. Dinaga- 4th Place with a
rating of 92.50% and Brgy. Bagumbayan Norte on 5th Place with a rating
of 90.50%.
Recipient of the top awards received P1M, P700K, P500K, P300K, and P200K worth of projects and trophies, respectively.
Meanwhile, the 6th to 10th Place went to Brgys. Del Rosario, Calauag,
Panicuason, Concepcion Grande and Igualdad, respectively, each received
P100K worth of projects and trophy.
For Baldemoro, the Award is one way of giving recognition to the
accomplishments of every barangay on the programs of the children.
“This is one way of expressing gratitude by the City Government of
Naga, because Naga cannot be the Most Child-Friendly City without the
support and cooperation of the barangays. The barangays have a big part
on it,” Baldemoro said.
The implementation of the Search for the Most Child-Friendly Barangay
Awards was spearheaded by the City Government of Naga thru the Naga
City Council for the Welfare and Protection of Children (NCCWPC) headed
by Mayor John Bongat as Chairman and Councilor Baldemoro as
Co-Chairman. (Jam Madrid)
Source of news and photo: Philippine Information Agency
In Photo: Naga City Officials (top row) headed by Mayor John G. Bongat (4th from
right) and Vice Mayor Nelson Legacion (5th from right) pose with the
barangay officials of Barangay Abella, this year's top winner of the
2018 Search for the Most Child-Friendly Barangays Awards during the
awarding ceremony held Nov. 27 at the Avenue Convention Plaza, Naga
City.
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The city government has deputized 390 barangay officials from Baguio’s 128 barangays to help enforce the plastic-free ordinance.
City
Information Office chief Aileen Refuerzo said Friday Mayor Mauricio
Domogan issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 171 series of 2018,
deputizing three representatives from each of the 128 barangays -- the
barangay captain, barangay kagawad assigned on health and sanitation and
ecological and environment committee, and his kagawad alternate -- to
implement Ordinance No. 35-17, or the Plastic and Styrofoam-Free Baguio
City Ordinance.
“The AO named the group as the ‘Plastic
Carry/Shopping Bags and Styrofoam-Free Baguio Task Force or Task Force
Anti-Plastic’,” Refuerzo said.
They will join members of the task
force, led by the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO),
and the General Services Office (GSO), City Treasury Office, the Baguio
City Police Office (BCPO), the business permit and licensing, public
order and safety division, and public information divisions of the City
Mayor’s Office.
Under the ordinance, “the task force will be in
charge of issuing notices of violation, citation tickets indicating
corresponding penalty or reprimand and confiscating and seizing the
prohibited materials to be turned over to the Public Order and Services
Division (POSD) of the City Mayor’s Office, along with the violators."
The
deputized agents will also lead in the
information-education-communication campaign of the ordinance and the
orientation and training for the barangay officials.
The
newly-deputized members of the task force will submit to the GSO a
weekly report with copies of the notices of violation and/or citation
tickers for proper monitoring.
Last September, Domogan deputized 43
operatives from the city government offices as force multipliers in
addition to the original members who will implement the Plastic and
Styrofoam-Free Baguio City Ordinance.
Refuerzo also noted that
“only the sale, distribution and use of plastic carry or shopping bags
and Styrofoam (are) prohibited and as such, stores cannot provide
clients with plastic bags.”
Under the ordinance, customers can
provide their own carry or shopping bags, so long as these are not made
of plastic and that Styrofoam cannot be used as containers for cooked or
raw food.
Plastic containers can be used as alternative for these
types of food but must be carried in bags that are not made of plastic.
The only exception for the prohibition is the use of plastic bags for
primary packaging of wet goods and items.
Ordinance No. 35-17
prohibits business establishments from providing customers any plastic
bag or polystyrene foam container for goods or items purchased or
serving food or drink, take out or dine-in to customers in polystyrene
containers or in plastic bags and will cover all business activities and
establishments in the city, including city government schools and
offices.
Violators face reprimand or immediate closure for
establishments or a PHP1,000 fine for first offense; PHP3,000 and eight
hours of community service for second offense; PHP5,000 for third
offense; and suspension of business permit for six months for fourth
offense.
Source of news: Philippine News Agency
Source of photo, eco bags: Herald Express
THE Sangguniang Kabataan Federation in Iloilo province is awaiting
the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) guidelines on
SK financial transactions.
Iloilo SK Federation President and Board Member Ma. Angelica Bianca
Requinto said the lack of guidelines affects the implementation of
programs and activities by the youth sector body.
Requinto said that the SK still follows the old procedure wherein the
village chief must sign every financial document pertaining to the
disbursement of SK money, which is sourced from the general fund of the
barangay.
SK Federation presidents passed during the 12th National Youth
Parliament a resolution asking concerned agencies to hasten the issuance
of the guidelines.
Requinto said they seek financial independence so that they can implement projects without relying to much on elder leaders.
During the SK National Summit, the DILG already assured that the
guidelines would be released before the year ends, Requinto said.
COMMENDABLE
Requinto said she continues to push for policies that will benefit SK officials.
Requinto’s youth bill entitled “An Act institutionalizing the
Benefits and Privileges of Sangguniang Kabataan Officials in Addition to
the Provisions of Republic Act No. 10742, otherwise Known as the SK
Reform Law” was among the top 10 recognized bills during the 12th
National Youth Parliament.
The bill seeks to exempt an SK official from taking National Service
Training Program-Civic Welfare Training Service (NSTP-CWTS); become
Civil Service-eligible after his or her term; be included in the
PhilHealth coverage by the national government; and be granted
honoraria.
It intends to strengthen the existing SK Reform Law, Requinto added.
SK CONGRESS
The concerns on financial transactions and SK officials’ benefits,
among others, will be tackled in the SK Provincial Congress starting
today, Dec 1 until Dec 3, 2018.
Plenary sessions and youth forums will be conducted to address the
matters on health, global mobility, active citizenship, economic
empowerment, and education. (Gail T. Momblan.)
Source of news: The Daily Guardian.
Source of photo: Politiko Visayas
