DILG to 1,176 Cordillera b’gays: Tackle COVID- 19, ASF, rising rape cases

BAGUIO CITY – The Dept. of the Interior and Local Government ordered all 1,176 Cordillera barangays to conduct their first semester barangay assemblies to tackle the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), road clearing operations, and African swine fever (ASF) in the agenda.

DILG CAR Regional Director Marlo Iringan said it was the responsibility of barangay officials to convene their residents and register members for a meeting to discuss their accomplishments and financial reports the previous year and plan programs and projects for 2020 and deliberate new policies.

Themed “Barangay: Kaagapay sa Matiwasay at Ligtas na Pamumuhay”, the barangay can conduct the assembly on any Saturdays and Sundays of March this year.

“We should guarantee that the actions and decision taken by public officials respond to the needs of their constituents. Accountability and transparency is one of the key elements in good governance. Through these assemblies, the public is able to evaluate the effectiveness of their barangay officials if they are performing to their full potential”, Iringan said.

Alongside other agenda, the assembly also aims to discuss issues or concerns affecting their village such as social services, peace & order, public safety, disaster risk reduction and management, environmental management, and economic development.

After the Regional Peace and Order Council headed by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the growing number of rape cases in certain areas of the region was noted.

Iringan urged barangay officials to discuss proper interventions to prevent the crime.

Barangay officials who fail to conduct assembly can be sued administratively by residents, concerned citizens or government and non-government entities pursuant to section 61 of the local government code. 

The conduct of barangay assembly is stipulated under Section 397 of the Local Government Code of 1991 and the Proclamation No. 599 series of 2018.