ANGARA CHALLENGES CANDIDATES: REINVIGORATE BRGY, SK ROLES IN NATION BUILDING

Senator Sonny Angara has welcomed the high turnout of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls, saying that candidates should show to their constituencies how they plan to reinvigorate the role of barangay and SK in nation building.

According to reports, the Commission on Elections said over a million Filipinos filed COCs for the barangay and SK elections as of Friday, April 20, a day before the end of the filing of COCs.

Of those who filed COCs, 684,785 candidates ran in the barangay elections, while 386,206 others ran for a position in the SK.

"This is the first barangay and SK elections in five years, after two postponements and after the enactment of the SK Reform Law. We welcome the heightened interest and we challenge the candidates to show the voters how they can truly fulfill their role in nation building as frontliners in the delivery of basic services," said Angara, chairman of the local government committee.

Angara recognized that as the basic political unit of government policies, projects and activities in the community, the barangay is positioned to influence and direct the development of the entire country.

"Mas malapit sila sa taumbayan. Kadalasan sila ang unang nilalapitan kapag may hinaing o reklamo. Kaya dapat lamang na siguruhing aabot ang ginhawa, lunas at tulong mula sa gobyerno para sa mga nangangailangan nito," the senator said.

Angara's committee has been conducting public consultations in reviewing the Local Government Code (LGC) under Republic Act 7160, which remained unchanged since its enactment in 1991.

One of the key barangay reforms identified is to improve their service delivery by making the mandate of barangays focused and limited to health and social welfare, peace, order and public safety, justice, and environment.

The senator further stressed that at least 20% of the total internal revenue allotment (IRA) of the barangay should be allocated for development projects.

However, according to the Liga ng mga Barangay, 40% of 41,902 barangays receive an IRA of P1 million or even less.

"Papaano nga naman nila maisasakatuparan ang mga proyekto kung napakaliit lamang ng badyet? Hindi sapat ang pondong ito para masustina ang kanilang pag-unlad. Our barangays should be self-reliant communities," the senator said.

He said his committee is also looking for ways on how the people's funds can be channeled into projects and services that serve their benefit and uplift their welfare.

"That should be the crux of the platform of our barangay and SK candidates--to ensure that the resources and powers given to them will truly serve and raise the well-being of their constituents," Angara said.