Department of the Interior and Local Government regional director for Central Visayas Leocadio Trovela. (Photo courtesy of DILG-7)
CEBU CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region 7 (Central Visayas) has commended 1,000 village chiefs, council members, secretaries, and Lupong Tagapamayapa (peace committee) members for preserving community tradition in settling disputes among residents.
Lawyer Leocadio Trovela, DILG-7 regional director, on Friday said the Lupon members from different barangays in Central Visayas and other regions joined a webinar on Katarungang Pambarangay Law (Barangay Justice System) on Thursday.
The webinar, he said, aimed to capacitate the Lupon members and enhance their knowledge and expertise on barangay justice.
Experts exposed them to the procedural aspect of the law and showcasing best practices on barangay justice administration.
Trovela praised the efforts of the Lupon especially in settling disputes at the community level and avoiding the indiscriminate filing of cases in court.
“What the Lupon members are doing is preserving the tradition of the community, and to preserve community harmony,” he said in a statement. “Congrats and thank you to the members of the Lupon, especially the Punong Barangay and members of the Sangguniang Barangay. You are helping us relieve the courts of the crowded dockets”.
Lawyer Ian Kenneth Lucero, DILG-Cebu City chief, challenged the attendees to apply what they have learned from the webinars.
“You have always been our front line defense of the government in all battles, may it be against Covid-19 or against lawlessness and criminality, and the speedy administration of justice in your level. Good luck and mabuhay kayong lahat (long live you all),” said Lucero, who also spoke during the webinar.
Meanwhile, a representative from Barangay Nasipit of Barili, a southern town in Cebu shared the village's best practices, how it earned a title, and sustain it. This barangay was the 2019 Regional Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awardee twice as the Cebu provincial winner and regional finalist in 2017 and 2018.
Division chiefs of the DILG-7, provincial and city directors, city and municipal local government operations officers, and personnel from the DILG regional office also joined the event. (PNA)
