Educate aspiring barangay officials about the significance of local legislation

Whenever I am invited to facilitate seminars for newly elected barangay officials, my primary objective is to educate them about the significance of local legislation and how it affects their communities. I talk about the powers and functions of the barangay council and explain how they make laws called ordinances. I also stress the need for the community to be involved in decision-making and for the barangay leaders to be transparent and accountable. I also talk about how barangay legislation helps promote fairness and equality.

I found through these seminars that many officials, including the barangay secretary and treasurer, often possess a limited understanding of the extent and significance of their roles and responsibilities in the community. One of the main reasons for this, I think, is that they don’t get proper training and education. Sometimes, people vote for them just because they are popular, not because they know how to do the job. So, they end up not having the skills they need to make good decisions and do their duties properly.

When officials do not understand their roles, it can lead to bad governance and important responsibilities being ignored. It is really important to remember that barangay officials are elected to be leaders and representatives of their communities. They have to follow the law, take care of the people in their barangay, and make things better for everyone.

To address this issue, I propose this humble suggestion: the national government, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) should invest in training sessions for people who want to be barangay officials. These sessions should teach them about their roles and responsibilities as public servants, as stated in Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991. By giving them this training, future barangay officials will have the knowledge they need to manage public resources, follow the rules, and create policies and programs that are in line with the code if they get elected or appointed.

Right now, it’s not required for candidates to attend these pre-election training sessions before running for barangay elections. But I think voters would be more likely to support candidates who have gone through this training and have a certificate from the DILG to prove it. This way, we can make sure that the candidates understand what they’re getting into and what their responsibilities are.

So, by giving future barangay leaders the right training, DILG can help them do their jobs better. This training will also make sure that they are transparent and accountable, and involve the community in decision-making. And all of this will make our society stronger and more democratic. Investing in the education of barangay candidates is a great way to improve local governance in our country.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO,

Marikina City