Cogon to hold general assembly

Several politicians will be in attendance when barangay Cogon-Ramos holds its first general assembly this Saturday.

From Manila, Genuine Opposition senatorial candidate Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, Akbayan Reps. Roseta Rosales and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel will be at hand while the wife of senator-reelectionist Manuel Villar, congresswoman Cynthia Villar, would be sending a representative on her behalf.

Also expected to attend are Cebu north district Rep. Raul Del Mar, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, and members of the City Council.



Cogon-Ramos barangay captain Danilo Alfafara, in an interview with The Freeman, said the choice of guests was not based on party affiliation but on the guests' intent to help the barangay realize its goals.

"Di lang sa ta mohisgot og politika. We invited whoever can help us realize our plan for the barangay," Alfafara said, adding that the guests, already knowledgeable in the field of governance, might have suggestions on how to go about with the barangay development plan.

The presentation of the five-year barangay development plan to the residents would be the assembly's best part, Alfafara said.

Recently, the barangay formulated a comprehensive multi-sectoral development plan, which contains its socio-economic development thrusts in the next five years.

The plan consists of five sectors - environment, development administration, human development, infrastructure, and economic.

In October last year, members of the barangay development council underwent a three-day training on barangay development planning through participatory resource appraisal facilitated by the Center for Participatory Governance.

The five-year barangay development plan is a result of hard work, initiative, and unity of the people of the barangay, particularly officials of the barangay, leaders of people's organizations from various sectors, and representatives of non-government organizations.

Alfafara said the formulation of BDP is mandated by the Local Government Code to provide wider and greater role and resources for the local government units to pursue local development within their territorial jurisdiction.

However, Alfafara said it took the barangay a long time to come up with its own BDP because it had to go through the process and had to be participated by all sectors and had to be approved by the residents.

Cogon-Ramos is the fourth barangay to have its own BDP after Barrio Luz, Banilad, and Ermita. - Wenna A. Berondo