CEBU, Philippines — Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos supports the call for term extension of barangay captains and kagawads based on his own study on the length of service in other countries as key to development.
Abalos, in his continuing visit to different areas in the country, said it is important that SK to barangay officials, and even to the city, municipal, and the provincial level, up to national government is “in-sync”.
“Kung hindi, masama ang takbo nya. I’ve been a mayor, congressman, MMDA, and now with DILG, kailangan natin ng stability,” Sec.Abalos said during his recent visit in Cavite.
Abalos shared that he has looked into the situation of other Asian countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, and even Japan, where he found out that the minimum term of office for elected officials is four years.
“Pinakamaikli is four years. Sa Pilipinas, ilan? Sa barangay ngayon, napaka malas ninyo, two years lang kayo…sorry inabot kayo sa two years, pero yun ang Supreme Court decision,” Sec.Abalos said.
Abalos looks into the situation every election saying it has even affected relationships among neighbors, friends, and worse, even among family members.
“Tuwing election, kung minsan yung kapitbahay mo, kaaway mo, kung minsan, yung kumpare mo kaaway mo, minsan kamag-anak mo…at ang pinaka madugo ay ang barangay dahil napaka liit ninyo minsan. Tapos uulitin mo yan every two years, uulitin mo every three years. Anong mangyayari sa atin? Nagpapaplano ka pa lang, wala na, sira na...There is no stability,” he added.
Based on his own study, Sec. Abalos said he feels that the number of years in a term factors in.
“Sa ginawa kong pag-aaral, probably a factor bakit yung ibang mga kapitbahay natin, gumaganda ang pamamahala,” Abalos said.
With this, Abalos said if there should be change, it should start from the term of office among barangay officials.
“If we need to change everything, we need to change the term of office ng barangay captain at ng mga kagawad…dapat pahabaan kayo. Not for anything else, that’s from a basis of a solid study,” Abalos stressed.
In the meantime, though, Abalos has offered to help barangay officials in their capacity-building, as well as other means he can support them to be able to serve the barangay better.
“Ang trabaho natin, don’t expect na magthank you ang tao, pero konting bagay, syempre, nandyan agad ang reklamo…that’s part of the game, that’s public service, importante lang ang pag unawa sa tao,” Abalos said.
Abalos also challenged the barangay officials to “think outside the box” amid all challenges.
“Marami kayong hamon. Hindi pwede ma please, sa iba masama ka…pabayan nyo na sila. Sanay na ako sa bashing, wala akong pakialam. Tandaan nyo ito, maski kumahol ng kumahol ang aso, derecho pa rin. Kasi kung bawat kantong kumahol titigilan mo, dimo mapupuntahan ang pupuntahan mo. At the end of the day, it is your output, yung na nagawa mong sa bayan. Kung tingin nyo ito ay tama, wag kayong matakot…tindigan nyo po ito,” Abalos added. — (FREEMAN)