The Barangay Justice System: A community view

The Barangay Justice system has been around in the Philippine Justice System since 1978. Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos enacted PD 1508 to institutionalize the creation of Barangay Courts throughout the country. 

The law creating the system recognized the Filipinos’ time-honored tradition of settling disputes amicably within the confines of the family and the community. It also aimed at decongesting the courts with pending cases.

After the Edsa Revolution, the establishment of the Barangay  Justice System became part of the 1991 Local Government Code. The code highlighted the strength of the Barangay Justice System lies in the community.

But how far are community members aware of the functions of the Barangay Justice System? How many of them, do in fact, believe that it can be part of the efforts to build peace in the community?

To answer these questions, Synergeia, in partnership with the Global Community Engagement Resilience Fund (GCERF), conducted a series of town-hall meetings in the municipalities of Piagapo, Lanao Del Sur; Buldon, Maguindanao, and Jolo, Sulu. The activity is a part of a broader program that Synergeia conducts in BARMM in partnership with GCERF.

In 2020, Synergeia launched Project BRAVE ( Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism) in the three previously mentioned municipalities and the Municipality of Kapatagan, Lanao Del Sur. The whole project aims to mobilize communities to create strategies to prevent violent extremism (PVE). It calls for Local School Boards and School Governing Councils to make PVE activities part of their community action plans. The project also recognizes the need to establish effective grievance systems in the community and allow members to resolve conflicts peacefully. In acknowledging the need for a grievance system, Synergeia has included raising the awareness level of the community on the Barangay Justice System. It also will implement activities to help members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa ( Barangay Courts) better dispense their duties to the community.

So what were the results of the town hall meeting?

A look at some of the results of the baseline assessment conducted at the start of the meeting, revealed the following:

• Seventy-five percent (75% out of a total of 239 participants ) had no experience with the Barangay Justice System.
• 49.72% – thought that it referred to the community assembly held to discuss government programs.
• Almost everyone ( 93%) knew that the Barangay Captain sits as the head.
• Half of the respondents were aware that some prefer to settle disputes outside the Barangay Justice System.
• 76% believed that timidity was the main reason for settling disputes outside the barangay.
• A quarter of disputes are settled amicably between conflicting parties; ANother quarter mentioned that they sought the help of the Barangay Chairman. 12% would approach their elders. 13% went directly to the police to ask for assistance.

From those who already experienced being part of the Barangay Justice System, Synergeia was able to gather the following:

• The most common cases brought to the attention of the Barangay Courts were:
• Family Conflicts
• Conflicts between neighbors and other community members
• Trespassing
• Non-payment of Debts

-87% shared that the Barangay Chairman helped resolve the conflict by calling everyone involved and listening to both sides.

Towards the end of the workshops, the participants also shared their commitments to strengthen the Barangay Justice System.

Apipa Acoon, a participant from Piagapo promised to campaign, “about the existing Barangay Justice System to her constituents. She will also encourage them to raise disputes to the Barangay at once.
A young participant spoke of the need to be vigilant about his surroundings and be courageous enough to report suspicious activities to the Barangay Officials

Babuh Amma , from Jolo emphasized the need to listen to both sides and avoid the trap of believing in baseless assumptions.

Overall the respondents had a consensus on how to strengthen the Barangay Justice System. More than half suggested the following steps:

• Build the capacity of the residents to understand what their rights are.
• Build the skills of the barangay on conflict-mediation.

– Organize more barangay assemblies.

– Enable the residents to become more familiar with the responsibilities of the barangays.

Synergeia will strive to work on these suggestions in our upcoming activities under Project Brave. In doing so, we do hope to make the Barangay Justice System an effective tool for peace-building.  Photo and content reposted from Page One.

Farm-to-market road boosts economy of CamSur barangay

Residents of Barangay Sagrada in Minalabac, Camarines Sur has been reaping the benefits of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) completed farm-to-market road (FMR) in their community. 

According to Secretary Mark A. Villar, the improvement into concrete of the 1-kilometer FMR was implemented by DPWH Camarines Sur 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO) from July 2020 to December 2020. 

Secretary Villar, citing a report from District Engineer Ruben S. Santos, Jr., further explained that the road construction costing P12.44 million was sourced from Department of Agriculture’s (DA) fund for fiscal year 2020. 

“The new road has been improving local mobility in the area resulting to increased income for farmers by providing a more effective road for transporting their products to market centers,” said Secretary Villar. 

The time needed for people to reach basic services in their community such as educational, health, and business establishments was lessen by the convenience brought upon by the completion of the road project. 

Secretary Villar added that the FMR has also provided locals a chance to access better employment and trade opportunities in and outside of their community. (Content reposted from Philippine News Agency) PHOTO; FB Page Barangay Sagrada)

Barangay chiefs to take over responsibility over LGU-cleared roads

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today announced that Barangay Captains will be made to sign contracts legalizing their responsibility in maintaining roads cleared by their respective local government unit (LGU).

“One of the strategies that we will adopt is that once a road is cleared by the LGU, a contract is drawn up and signed by the Barangay Captain who then is now responsible for maintaining the cleared roads," DILG Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and Undersecretary Bernardo C. Florece, Jr. said following a meeting of Task Force Road Clearing composed of the DILG, Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metro Manila Council, Philippine National Police and other concerned agencies on Thursday at the DILG Central Office.

"There will also be an exit conference with the mayor so that he is advised of the results of the validation,” he added.

Florece also reminded all LGUs of the deadline on February 15 of Road Clearing 2.0 and the validation of program starting February 16-March 2.

He, however, assured that the DILG will be fair in the road-clearing validation but will point out the deficiencies so that this can be acted upon soonest by the LGUs.

The DILG chief also said no-parking signs and visual cues must be placed in cleared roads so that the residents do not go back to their old ways. 

Florece acknowledges that with the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines, LGUs may have their hands full but he nonetheless challenges them to comply with the President’s directive. 

“Nais po nating makita ang tagumpay ng road clearing operations sa buong bansa ngunit ayaw rin nating maantala ang rollout ng vaccine kaya’t dapat galingan ng ating mga mayor,” he said.

February 16 to March 2 is the validation period for all provinces, cities, and municipalities, while March 9 is the deadline for all DILG Regional Offices (ROs) to submit their respective compliance data and forms as well as attachments to the DILG Central Office (CO) - Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS).

The Department, through the BLGS, will ensure that all LGUs adhere to the principles of road clearing, even beyond the validation period making it a whole-year-round program. Personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), as well as representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs), will be part of the local Validation Teams. (Content reposted from the Philippine Information Agency) 

Baguio City barangays awarded for exemplary Covid-19 response

Forty-five barangays through their respective Punong Barangays were awarded cheques and plaques in appreciation to their efforts in keeping Covid-19 cases down for the last nine months of 2020.

The awards were handed out by Congressman Marquez Go, Vice-Mayor Faustino Olowan, City Administrator Bonifacio de la Pena and city councilors during the regular city hall flag raising ceremonies Monday.

According to Special Services Division (SSD)/Barangay Affairs Office head Noel Mabutas, the Covid response program was done through the initiative of Mayor Benjamin Magalong, making use of funds amounting to P700,000 from the local good governance program.

Andres Bonifacio, Scout Barrio, Upper Dagsian, Atok Trail,Middle Quezon hill, Loakan Apugan, Lower Dagsian, Manuel Roxas, Upper Quezon Hill, Middle Quezon Hill, Alfonso Tabora, DPS Compound, Pinsao Pilot Project, Session road, Upper City Market, Andres Bonifacio Caguia Rimando (ABCR), Country Club Village, Brookspoint, Gibraltar, Kias, Upper Rock Quarry, Lopez Jaena, Padre Zamora, Saint Joseph Village, and Loakan Proper barangays received P20,000 each.

Barangays Camdas, Camp 7, Fort Del Pilar, Magsaysay Private road, Military Cut-off, Sto, Tomas Proper, West Quirino Hill, Pacdal, Lourdes Proper, San Roque Village, Trancoville, Kabayanihan, Lower Rock Quarry, Middle Rock Quarry, Lourdes Extension, Pucsusan, Upper General Luna, Aurora hill proper, City Camp central, and Brookside received P10,000 each.

The Covid-19 response program dealt with barangays’ control, lockdowns and implementation of health protocols as to national and local directives, policies, memoranda, advisories, guidelines and local ordinances and resolutions.

Compliance of barangays to various communications as recorded from the local government unit, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were part of the criteria for judging.

A fraction of the scores is from compliance to various programs on health and sanitation during the pandemic based on Health Services Office (HSO) records, while innovations as to prevention, control and Covid-19 management, and completeness of requisite requirement were considered in judging the program.

Exemplary practice or competitive edge for certain barangays was also considered and recorded for possible duplication or re-echoing.

The barangay assessment was conducted by the SSD/Barangay Affairs Office and Liga ng mga Barangay chair Councilor Michael Lawana, with participation of representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), City Mayors’ Office (CMO), OCSWDO, Health Services Office/Sanitation Office, PDEA and the BCPO.

The cash incentive shall be utilized by the barangays for Covid-19 programs and other related concerns. According to SSD Community Affairs Officer Briccio Domondon, thie incentive will help sustain Covid-19 response program while the pandemic is on-going. (Contents reposted from Herald Express).

Ilocos Norte barangays allotted 200,000 each for community eco-parks

Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc urged barangay officials to create greener and more sustainable spaces across the province by establishing community-based eco-parks.  

In his recent press briefing, Governor Manotoc said that the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) has allotted Php 200,000.00 for each barangay to build a trifunctional public space.

"The barangay eco-parks will have three components. First is the regular playground for kids. The second would be the agricultural component, so we will have barangay-based farming. The third would be a composting site, which will help in our solid waste management. We can make locally-sourced fertilizers," Governor Manotoc explained. 

He continued, "I am hopeful that our barangays will inaugurate and establish or improve existing parks to have these three components."

At present, the Provincial Government is constructing its pilot Cluster Plastic Recycling and Materials Recovery Facility in Marcos town.

Annually, PGIN, through the Environment and Natural Resources Office, recognizes outstanding conservation efforts of barangays, particularly their solid waste management plan, environment management and sustainability initiatives, and well-managed public places, among others. (Content reposted from: PGIN-CMO website)  

Barangay Fort Bonifacio lauded for launching digital processing and payment program

Mayor Lino commends Barangay Fort Bonifacio for launching its digital processing and payment program last December 15, 2020.

Applications for New Business Clearance in Barangay Fort Bonifacio are now fully automated and can now be applied, paid for, and released online. Other services, such as the Renewal of Business Clearance started to be available on January 4, 2021, and all remaining Barangay Clearances/Certificates will be available by February 1, 2021.

This ensures more convenient, efficient, transparent, and safer transactions for our constituents and other stakeholders amid the pandemic.

Fort Bonifacio is also the first barangay to partner with PayMaya. This aims to help keep the public safe by providing clients with alternative methods of payment of fees through PayMaya, Visa, or Mastercard.

Mayor Lino Cayetano also commends the leadership of Barangay Captain and ABC President Jorge Bocobo and Council for thinking of innovative solutions to make sure that the City is the best place to live and do business.

“We should thank ABC President Jorge Bocobo and the whole council because they are able to innovate such project. Most especially now that we are in the middle of a pandemic. We are taking advantage of the technology since almost all the transactions nowadays are virtual. We are doing what we can to help the business sector so that we can finally open our economy. Hopefully, little by little, businesses will gradually recover,” Mayor Lino Cayetano said.

“This is proof that even in Barangay level, we have a proactive approach and would really go for an extra mile to serve the Taguigeños,” he added.

The local government is asking all Taguig barangays to follow suit. Moreover, the City of Taguig has also launched its downloadable forms for BOSS 2021 in line with the digitization of government services to make it more citizen-centric and make it easier to do business in the city.

BOSS on its 10th year

Taguig boasts of a very convenient business one-stop-shop which is ongoing in a dedicated 3-story payment center. Business owners process their business permits for BOSS 2021 with ease at the safer and more spacious Taguig Offsite Payment Center in Vista Mall Parking Building which will run until January 20, 2021.

Taguigeño business owners are also advised that there will be no business renewal application transactions in SM Aura and Taguig City Hall. All payment transactions will be accommodated at the Taguig Offsite Payment Center in Vista Mall which is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM including weekends.

Food and refreshments are also available onsite while clients wait for their documents to be processed. A priority lane for senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women is arranged in the zone for their benefit. (Content reposted from Taguig LGU FB Page)

Antique barangays receive Smart TVs from DILG as community peace and development tools

 

Two barangays received Smart TVs through the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) of the DILG in Antique during the launching of the RCSP TV Aralan Series at Adelaide Tourist and Traveler’s Inn, San Jose, Antique on November 25, 2020.

The RCSP is one of the strategies employed by the government in ending insurgency by strengthening the government’s role in establishing peace and development in every community.

The TV Aralan Series, which forms part of the RCSP, is an initiative by the DILG Region 6 in partnership with the Regional Task Force (RTF) to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC). Along with Smart TVs, three modules were also provided for the learning and development of key barangay stakeholders.

“It is a mechanism to keep the target audience in the target barangays abreast and well-informed of the various programs, projects, and activities of DILG and other concerned national government agencies,” said DILG Region 6 OIC-Regional Director (RD) Juan Jovian Ingeniero during the launching.

The RTF-ELCAC has been active in its duty to bring peace and development in the region through its sub-clusters.? Various efforts have been advanced and maintained to realize its aspirations for the region.

DILG Antique Provincial Director Cherryl Tacda said that the DILG Antique Province has been assisting the recipient barangays in the implementation of the RCSP by strengthening their barangay based institutions, empowering their communities, and revisiting their barangay development plans to ensure that the programs and projects are shovel-ready when the appropriate budget comes in 2021.

“Of the 74 RCSP recipient barangays in Region 6, two are from the Province of Antique: Brgy. Bulan-Bulan, San Remigio, and Brgy. Cabladan, Sibalom,” said RCSP Provincial Focal Person Whel Frank Santias.

The Municipal Mayors of Sibalom and San Remigio -- Gian Carlo Occena and Margarito Mission Jr. -- and the Punong Barangays (PBs) of the RCSP recipient barangays -- PBs Pedro Raymundo and Porficio Cabigunda -- expressed their gratitude to DILG Region 6 during the turn-over of the knowledge materials.

RD Ingeniero hopes that the program will strengthen the partnership between the local government units, beneficiaries, and stakeholders in advancing peace and development in the communities. (Contents reposted from DILG website)