Barangays to hold assembly day on Saturday; officials to recite good governance pledge

By DILG-Office of Public Affairs
December 9, 2010

QUEZON CITY  –  The country’s more than 42,000 barangays will hold the first synchronized barangay assembly day under President Benigno Aquino III’s administration on Saturday, December 11, 2010, which shall be highlighted by the recitation of the pledge for good governance by the barangay officials before their respective constituents.

The conduct of the assembly day is in accordance with Proclamation No. 74 issued by the Office of the President.

Secretary Jesse M. Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that this is the first barangay assembly day where barangay officials shall recite the “Panunumpa Para sa Mabuting Pamamahala Tungo sa Tuwid na Landas” as their commitment to promote and uphold the principles of barangay good governance.

“With the recitation of the pledge, they (punong barangays) are in essence vowing to institutionalize the tenets of transparency, responsiveness, accountability and participation at the barangay level,” Robredo said.

The pledge partly reads: “…na itataguyod at isasakatuparan ang pamamahalang matuwid, malinis, hayag at nagbibigay puwang sa lahat ng mamamayan na makilahok sa pagpapaunlad ng barangay.”

In his directive to local chief executives, Robredo urged barangay officials to discuss the guideposts in promoting and sustaining barangay good governance, particularly on transparency of barangay financial records, such as the posting of monthly collections and disbursements.

The DILG Secretary said the assembly day would also be a venue for them to present the current state of development and financial status of the barangay.

He said consultations and discussions with barangay residents on the proposed plans and programs to be implemented in the barangay for the next three years may also be held.

“As the basic political institution, the barangay is an important vehicle to elicit feedback from the public on community issues as well as to mobilize their support for government programs and projects,” Robredo said.

Proclamation No. 342 and the Local Government Code require the conduct of a barangay assembly every first Saturday of March and third Saturday of October.