The Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cordillera is reminding local government units in the conduct of barangay assembly for the second semester of 2022 with the theme “Barangayanihan: Barangay at mamamayan sama-sama sa pagtaguyod ng bayanihan tungo sa mas ligtas at maunlad na pamayanan” to allow wider participation of the barangay constituents and promote greater transparency and accountability of barangay officials in the region.
“We are encouraging barangay officials to hold their assemblies every Saturday and Sunday of March and October following the Local Government Code of 1991 which mandates the conduct of barangay assembly to hear and discuss the semestral report of the sangguniang barangay concerning its activities and finances as well as the problems affecting the barangay,” said Regional Director Araceli San Jose.
San Jose added the punong barangay or the first ranking sangguniang barangay member should deliver the State of Barangay Address (SOBA).
The SOBA highlights the accomplishments of the first semester of calendar year 2022, the financial report for the first semester of fiscal year 2022, updates on calendar year 2022 programs, projects and activities, ongoing and planned programs, projects, and activities to prevent and minimize the spread of the Covid-19, newly-enacted barangay ordinances, resolutions and status of vaccination with emphasis on the data of fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated barangay constituents, and other reports and issues or concerns affecting the barangay.
She said while there are still threats of Covid-19 variants in the country, the barangay assembly may be conducted through social media, in blended mode (face-to-face and online) or face-to-face, but urged the barangay officials to strictly adhere to protocols such as wearing face masks for indoor private or public establishments, and for outdoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
She also advised those who are not fully vaccinated, senior citizens, and immunocompromised individuals to wear their masks and to observe physical distancing at all times.
“Punong barangays should provide information on Executive Order 3, which allows the voluntary wearing of face masks in an outdoor setting and reiterates the continued implementation of minimum public health standards during the conduct of the assembly,” San Jose said. Barangay officials that do not organize an assembly can face administrative complaint, which may be filed by any resident of the barangay, concerned citizen, governmental or non-governmental entity before the sangguniangpanlungsod or sangguniang bayan concerned. – Press release
