Bohol's liga ng barangay Amendments to Local Gov't Code sought

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Some provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991 must be amended to suit the present needs of the LGUs, according to members of the Bohol’s Liga ng Barangay yesterday.

Some 1,109 barangay chairpersons gathered at the Bohol Tropics Resort Club in this city to hold their annual provincial congress, headed by provincial federated president Crispina Vergara with the theme “ Local Government Code: 20 Years of Gains Towards A More Meaningful Autonomy.”

Vice Governor Concepcion Lim, one of the speakers in the meeting, urged the barangay officials to put their call in writing or draft a petition for amendment of the Code to be presented immediately to House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tanada III, who was the event’s guest of honor.

Lim said there is now a need to convert the monthly honorarium of every barangay chairman into a salary, and to increase the penalty provision for the barangay over violations in their respective ordinances.

Right now, the penalty of P1,000 may not be feasible because violators can already afford it, she said citing her time as barangay chair in her turf of Valencia town.

This month, it is already 20 years since the Code was enacted, and its provisions are no longer applicable, said the vice governor.

Local officials in Bohol have clamored for an overhaul of the Code, especially on the sharing of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from the national government, which they said must be increased.

DILG provincial director Loisella Lucino agreed that the Code should be amended to suit the present needs of the LGUs.

Mayor Alvin Uy of Baclayon town, for his part, said “It’s a landmark law that empowers, give chances to LGUs to directly help their constituents. But there are some (provisions) to be revised or refined to suit the present.”

In his text message, Mayor Miguelito Galindez of Garcia-Hernandez town said the Code is, “a good guide in local governance. It needs amendments on certain provisions.”

Governor Edgar Chatto and Reps. Erico Aumentado (2nd dist) and Rene Relampagos (1st dist) also attended the barangay convention.