DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - — The city’s 240 newly elected barangay officials took their oaths of office yesterday in a mass oath taking conducted by the City Interior and Local Government Office headed by Felix Ablir in rites held at the City High School gym.
The 30 barangay chairpersons took their oath of office before Negros Oriental 2nd Dist Rep. George Arnaiz, while the 210 barangay councilmen, 98 of whom were newly elected, took their oaths before city Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria.
The event was witnessed by local officials, members of the City Council and other barangay officials, scholars, tanods, health workers and the elected officials’ relatives and supporters.
Arnaiz dared all barangay officials to unite and help the mayor deliver the best service to their respective constituents. He called on them to set aside partisan politics to be able to comply this task effectively.
Sagarbarria, for his part, reiterated his focus of empowering the barangays with consultations, and then assured the elected barangay officials of his support in their undertakings and services for the constituents.
Meanwhile, Gov. Roel Ragay Degamo also administered the oath of office of hundreds of barangay officials all over the province from Canlaon town to Basay.
DILG provincial director Farah Gentuya said the oath of office is a prerequisite before any elected official can assume office. (FREEMAN)