BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – Winning barangay candidates in this city will assume office beginning Monday, Nov. 6.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has earlier convened the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Commission on Elections (Comelec), Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), Liga ng mga Barangay-Iloilo City, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Iloilo City, City Legal Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), and City Accountant’s Office regarding the assumption of office barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials per DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2023-166.
“I am opening my office starting today, Friday, for the oath of office of newly-proclaimed punong barangays and Sangguniang Barangay members, and SK officials. Punong barangays may also administer the oath of their barangay council and SK,” Treñas said yesterday.
The City Accountant’s Office, as head of the Iloilo City Assessment and Transition Team, will notify concerned government banks of the assumption date of new set of officials and to prioritize to barangays with newly elected punong barangays and SK in the conduct of inventory.
The elected SK officials, meanwhile, are set to undergo mandatory training next week before assumption of office. The DILG mandated SK officials to attend a seminar from Nov. 3 to 13 before assuming their posts.
Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2023-166, issued by DILG secretary Benhur Abalos on Oct. 31, serves as the guide of the newly-elected barangay and SK officials prior and during their assumption. The MC allows the proper turnover of properties, financial records, and other documents to the new officials.
“With the foregoing, there shall be a transition period not to be exceed three weeks to ensure proper and smooth transition of governance, accountability, and actual turnover of barangay and SK properties, financial records, documents, and properties and money accountabilities and to secure/comply with the bonding requirements and other requisites under the existing laws, rules, and regulations,” Abalos said.
He warned that those who fail to assume three weeks after winning the Oct. 30 polls might face administrative cases.
Abalos further said that he issued a memorandum circular in response to the letter from the Comelec explaining that winning candidates who have already completed their requirements may immediately and effectively assume office./PN
