TACLOBAN CITY—Newly-assumed barangay officials were ordered by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the region to observe the four tenets of good governance.

DILG Regional Director Francisco Jose said that a recent memorandum from their central office calls on all barangay officials to observe transparency, responsiveness, accountability and participation in the performance of their duties.

“These involve financial records such as posting of itemized monthly collections and disbursements in prominent places in the barangay,” Director Jose said.

Jose added that aside from the four tenets of governance, barangay officials are also urged to recite the “Panunumpa” to show their solidarity with the program of the DILG dubbed as “Biyaheng Pinoy: Tapat na Palakad, Bayang Maunlad,” which is a year-long series of activities celebrating 20 years of local autonomy in the Philippines.

The DILG regional director also said that barangays may also hold appropriate activities to create awareness and social participation among residents in the community such as cultural presentations.

Meanwhile, the DILG has called on all barangay residents nationwide to participate in the December 11 synchronized barangay assembly.

DILG regional information officer Myles Joseph Colasito said the conduct of the barangay assembly is pursuant to President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s Proclamation Number 74, which is aimed to the newly-assumed barangay officials to sit down with their constituents and discuss with them pressing issues and concerns in their respective barangay.

Colasito added that the barangay assembly is also one venue for barangay leaders and residents to draft plans and programs they wish to carry out in the next three years.

 RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, provides that the barangay assembly days are supposed to be held at least twice a year, to hear and discuss the semestral report of the sangguniang barangay concerning its activities and finances, as well as problems affecting the barangay.

 However, due to the closeness of second semester barangay assembly, which was scheduled last October 16 to the October 25 elections, many barangays were unable to follow this provision of the law. 

Colasito said that to realize the President’s mission and vision for the country, Secretary Jesse Robredo released directives aimed at making the barangay active partners for good governance. (REYAN L. ARINTO)