Village chiefs (Barangay Captains) who won in the last Barangay elections should serve their constituents and not abandon what was given to them as responsibilities through the recently-concluded polls.
Lita Rivera Gongora, city interior and local government director, told newsmen here that an elected official should fully serve his term after he takes his oath, stressing it as a provision in a memorandum circular by her office.
“In the first place, why should he still decide to run when after being elected he opted to file a leave of absence?” she asked.
Reports had reached Gongora that there were candidates in this city who ran in the last October elections who actually work overseas and are also allegedly permanent residents in their places of destination.
Gongora, however, cannot categorically say the limit an elected barangay official can avail of the period of leaves.
She added that in the case of temporary vacancy, if the elected barangay captain decide to resign without finishing his term or who filed an indefinite leave of absence after taking his oath of office, the number one elected barangay kagawad can take his place immediately. The new barangay officer-in-charge can receive the same amount of honorarium or salary intended for elected barangay captains, a Department of Budget and Management stipulation which Gongora described as a “gray area.”
“I wished they should have not filed their candidacy, the jobs and responsibilities and duties for the Punong Barangay make the number one kagawad miserable,” Gongora added, alluding to some candidates who have won but are returning to work abroad after being elected.
She also advised newly-elected barangay officials to follow and apply what were learned in the orientations conducted by the DILG. |
