By Emmanuel D. Taghoy
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – Newly elected barangay officials as well as barangay secretaries and treasurers from Mabuhay town in Zamboanga Sibugay have undergone Barangay Newly Elected Officials (BNEO) orientation conducted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Zamboanga Sibugay at Roderic’s Hotel and Resort here on Jan. 22-24.
The BNEO 2013 of the DILG is a term-based program that tackles the whole gamut of barangay governance. It provides guidance in ensuring smooth transition, conduct of orientation course, planning, citizenship building, performance management, specialized courses, and awards and incentives.
Its objective is to facilitate the smooth transition of power and authorities from the outgoing to the incoming barangay officials, enhance the competencies of barangay officials in performing their mandated tasks and responsibilities and harness the participation of citizens as major partners in local development.
The methodology of the orientation includes, Radio Aralan, Face to Face Training, Webinar and Coaching Mentoring.
DILG Provincial Director Arnel F. Gudio in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said the very objective of the program plays a big role in the development and progress of every barangays wherein the outgoing officials would be able to turn-over their on-going projects, long term plans to the incoming officials to secure continuous development.
At the last day of the training, the participants were required, as their outputs, to formulate their respective Barangay Agenda for Governance and Development (BAGAD).
Gudio said the barangay officials from far municipalities like those from the three island municipalities would be housed in the venue.
“The venues should supposedly be in their respective municipalities but since some municipalities don’t have enough space for the venue, we conduct the orientation here in Ipil,” Gudio explained.
He also pointed out that the orientation has been a consistent activity of the DILG over the past years after each election.
As of this writing, an orientation has been going on for the barangay officials of Buug town. The three-day orientation-workshops will run until March 2014 to cover all barangays in the entire province. (PIA9)