SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna – Barangay assemblies that are slated here on Sunday (Oct. 8) may tackle relevant concerns such as disaster preparedness and waste management aside from the accomplishment reports and financial status of each villages.
City Mayor Loreto S. Amante on Thursday ordered all of the 80 Sangguniang Barangays (village legislative councils) in the city to hold their assemblies this Sunday in compliance with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2017-123.
The DILG memorandum calls for barangay assemblies to adopt the theme “Nagkakaisang Barangay: Lakas ng Kampanya Kontra sa Ilegal na Droga, Krimen at Katiwalian, Makiisa, Makilahok at Makialam,” or the active participation and support of villages in the campaign against hard drugs, criminality and corruption.
Under the Local Government Code of 1991, or Republic Act 7160, barangay assemblies should be conducted twice a year when semestral reports on plans, programs and accomplishment for the period under review are presented by the village councils to their constituents.
The village leaders are also directed to present during the assembly the budget performance and financial statements, including plans and programs for the ensuing year.
Village assemblies may also discuss disaster preparedness; proper waste management, collection and disposal; peace and order and other relevant issues and concerns that need to be addressed by local leaders in their dialogue with constituents.
DILG City Local Government Operations Officer Maria Lorilyn Manrique urged barangay councils to coordinate with their office so that a DILG representative could attend the gathering.
This is in compliance with the Local Government Code which also requires the local government units (LGUs) to furnish copy of the reports including photos and documentation of the gathering five days after the assembly.
October is declared “Local Government Month” by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 63 series of 1992 which also sets Oct. 10 as “Local Government Day” in observance of the 26th year when the Local Government Code, or Republic Act No. 7160, was signed into law on Oct. 10, 1991.
The Proclamation provides that “the State recognizes the local government units as partners of the national government in the attainment of national goals.” (Ruben E. Taningco/PNA)
