BSKE: What qualities should you look for in a candidate?

Lawyer Michael Maxino Bandal, legal officer Department of Interior and Local Government Central Visayas, talks with the media during a news forum on Tuesday, August 29. | CDN File photo by Niña Mae Oliverio

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC) for the Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023 started yesterday, August 28, 2023.

With this, a legal officer of Department of Interior and Local Government Central Visayas (DILG-7) reminded the public of the significance of knowing the duties of the officials in the basic political unit which is the barangay.

Lawyer Michael Maxino Bandal, said in a news forum on Tuesday, August 29, that it would be important to know the role of the barangay officials, as well as knowing the qualities of the candidates that the people should look into.

READ: Comelec-Mandaue needs more clustered precincts for BSKE

Qualities that voters should look for

On his part, the DILG-7 legal officer said that among the qualities the voters should look for in voting a candidate would be the willingness to serve and set an example to their constituents.

“Ang barangay unta nato would set an example by submitting themselves into a drug test, especially that daghan na kaayong mga incidents of mga drugs,” he said.

(Our barangay should set an example by submitting themselves into a drug test, especially that there are many incidents of drugs.)

He believes that the best way in setting an example, though not prescribed by law, is by submitting themselves to a drug test.

“Of course, we should see to it nga ang atong mga barangay officials, aside sa willingness mo serve sa public [is] wala ba pud sila’y propensity nga mohimo’g mga illegal nga mga butang o propensity to abuse their power,” he added.

(Of course, we should see to it that our barangay officials, aside from the willingness to serve the public [is] they should not have the propensity to do something illegal, or should not have the propensity to abuse their power.)

He said that ‘public service is a public trust.’

“Dapat naa gyud sila’y political will nga despite unsa pa’y e-istorya sa mga tawo against them, as long as they know that what they’re doing is good for the people (then) they should do that, regardless kung unsa’y isulti sa mga tawo,” he said.

(They should have the political will that despite what people will talk against them, as long as they know that what they’re doing is good for the people (then) they should do that, regardless what people will say about them.)

READ: Comelec-Mandaue needs more clustered precincts for BSKE

Functions of barangay officials

Bandal cited some functions of the barangay officials as stipulated in the Section 389 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines.

Some salient functions that Bandal mentioned were the functions of a barangay captain.

The following are the duties and functions of the barangay captain according to DILG-7 legal officer as per Section 389 of the local government code:

The barangay captain shall:

• Enforce all laws and ordinances which are applicable within the Barangay;
• Negotiate, enter into, and sign contracts for and in behalf of the Barangay, upon authorization of the Sangguniang Barangay;
• Maintain public order in the Barangay and, in pursuance thereof, assist the city or municipal mayor and the sanggunian members in the performance of their duties and functions;
• Call and preside over the sessions of the Sangguniang Barangay and the Barangay assembly, and vote only to break a tie;
• Upon approval by a majority of all the members of the Sangguniang Barangay, appoint or replace the Barangay treasurer, the Barangay secretary, and other appointive Barangay officials;
• Exercise general supervision over the activities of the Sangguniang Kabataan;
• Promote the general welfare of the Barangay; and
• Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be
  prescribed by law or ordinance.

READ: Poll workers in 2023 BSKE to receive P9,000-P10,000 honoraria — Comelec

Furthermore, Bandal said that the barangay captain would be like a “father of the barangay.”

“But we should always remember nga most sa mga duty sa barangay captain, they cannot do that alone without the authority sa sanggunian,” he reminded.

(But we should always remember that most of the duties of the barangay captain, they cannot do that alone without the authority of the sanggunian.)

Based on Section 387 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines, each barangay shall have one punong barangay (barangay captain), seven sangguniang barangay members, the sangguniang kabataan chairman, a barangay secretary, and a barangay treasurer.

READ: Comelec shares some guidelines in BSKE 2023 filing of COC

Barangay elections: non-partisan

Bandal also reminded the public that unlike the national and local elections, BSKE is “non-partisan.”

“Technically, bawal gyud ni naay mo support nila nga mga public officials. As a matter of fact, I believe that would be an election offense,” he said.

Bandal was referring to Section 28 of the Omnibus Election Code which states that, “The barangay election shall be non-partisan and shall be conducted in an expeditious and inexpensive manner.”