Barangays face sanctions for failure to conduct assemblies before end of Oct.

Barangays face sanctions for failure to

conduct assemblies before end of Oct.

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) –   Barangay officials will face sanctions , particularly “ dereliction of duty” cases  if they fail to conduct barangay assemblies in their communities on or before the end of this month.

Any barangay residents or entity empowered to do so can file charges against barangay officials if they fail to conduct these yearly assemblies as required by law as provided in the Local Government Code.

Of the 98 barangays, only Tumaga managed to conduct their assembly last week.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director r Mohammad Arakama said officials of  any barangays who will not comply the mandated barangay assembly until end  October 2014 will   be charged for failure to do so .

Most  of the 98 barangays failed to conduct the scheduled barangay assembly last October 12, 2014  for some reasons or the other.

Arakama said that this  2^nd annual  barangay assembly  is very important because this is where  barangays officials particularly the barangay chairmen together with the kagawads have to present to their constituents  the accomplishment report.

They are also required to submit to their constituents , the liquidation for  funds of  completed projects and projects still  to be implemented  to include among other concern of the community .

Pursuant to Proclamation No. 260, dated 30 September 2011, the Barangay Assembly Day for  the first Semester of CY 2014 was  set last March 29, 2014.

Section 397(b) of the Local Government Code enjoins barangay officials to to undertake the following activities during the assemblies:

1.    State of Barangay Address (SOBA)

2.    Compliance to DILG Memorandum Circular regarding the posting of Barangay Budget, Statement of Income and Expenditures and other Barangay Financial Transactions, and Annual Procurement Plan.

3.    Discussion on issues or concerns affecting the barangay, such as but not limited to:

a.     Disaster Preparedness

b.    Solid Waste Management

c.     Peace and Order Situation, particularly on the proliferation of activities pertaining to illegal drugs in the barangay

d.    Monitoring and strict enforcement of the laws against Human trafficking at the barangay level

Complaints against those who failed in this duty can be filed by any resident of the barangay, concerned citizen, governmental or non-governmental entity before the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan concerned pursuant to Section 61 of the Local Government Code or to the Office of the Ombudsman pursuant to Administrative Order No. 07 or the "Rules of Procedures on the Office of the Ombudsman .  ( Letty M. Militante ) (101414)