THE BARANGAY election is drawing near. That we conduct it with regularity emphasizes the important role of barangays in nation-building. This must not be overlooked. After all, barangays are the basic units of governance in Philippine society. Barangay officials are the most attuned to the goings-on in the grassroots and they should not be looked down as mere political puppets.
There are bills both in the Senate and House of Representatives creating a magna carta for barangays. It is hoped that their passage would be hastened. Barangays are the public face of the government in the front lines. They must have the appropriate powers, resources and reasonable autonomy to govern efficiently and effectively.
Among others, the proposed measures want the barangays to receive their fair share of revenues directly from the Department of Budget and Management. They also propose that barangay officials receive salaries and benefits like those regular civil servants receive.
The proposed magna carta for barangays would be game-changing for grassroots governance. The barangays are the public face of the government out there in the front lines. The magna carta can give proper importance to the role of barangays in nation-building. Barangays must have the appropriate tools to solve their own problems, without having to wait for instructions from city hall or the provincial capitol, many kilometers and hours away. Barangay officials are elected as leaders. We must let them be leaders, not mere followers.
The downloading of funds from DBM directly to the barangays would improve the quality and speed of delivery of basic services communities need. In the current system, before the barangays receive funds, the barangay captain must first kowtow to the mayor, the governor and the sanggunian. That is traditional politics. A governance of subservience.
But a magna carta is just one way to make good grassroots governance really happen nationwide. The Civil Service Commission (CSC) would also have to find ways to make the barangay civil service professional and ethical. CSC would also need to treat barangay officials as elected officials and regular employees. The officials are elected political leaders but the positions they will occupy are entitled to regular employee salaries and benefits.
It is time – long overdue, in fact – to usher in the next major phase on infusing good governance at the barangay level by further empowering barangay leaders to exercise responsible and accountable leadership.
