Brgys that fail to conduct assembly face sanctions

CEBU, Philippines - Barangays that failed to conduct a general barangay assembly last Saturday will likely to face administrative sanctions by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

A report that reached the DILG National Barangay Operations Office shows that all barangays in Cebu City and 100 percent of barangays in Central Visayas held their assemblies.

City DILG chief Patricio Gabuya said that Proclamation No. 342 and the Local Government Code requires the conduct of a barangay assembly every last Saturday of March and third Saturday of October.

Gabuya said the barangay general assembly should not be taken for granted because this enlivens the spirit of people participation in local governance as barangay officials and their constituents actively discuss and agree on issues affecting their barangays.

Any resident of the barangay, concerned citizen, governmental or non-governmental entity may file an administrative complaint against negligent barangay officials before the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan concerned in accordance with Section 61 of the Local Government Code.

Aside from problems discussed in the assembly, the barangay officials also tackled the barangay accomplishments and financial reports, solid waste management, and disaster preparedness.

The Cebu City Council, meanwhile, urged all 80 barangays to include programs and projects for the strengthening of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children in their Annual Work and Financial Plan and Financial Plan.

Cebu City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña said that barangays should set aside one-percent allocation for the activities such as trainings, seminars and educational tours for the juveniles in the barangays.

“Since the adoption of a comprehensive plan on juvenile justice and the strengthening of the BCPCs had long been advocated by the Cebu City Commission for the Welfare and Protection of Children,” Osmeña said. — (FREEMAN)