ANTIQUE – Barangay Abiera in Sebaste town was recognized as national champion in the recent 2022 Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for 4th to 6th class municipalities.
Barangay officials, headed by punong barangay Romeo Manalo, received the presidential trophy and a cash award of P300,000 during the awarding ceremony at The Manila Hotel on Monday, Nov. 28.
Also present were Sebaste’s Mayor January Ener Padpad, Sebaste Local Government Operations Officer VI Deo Montero Orquejo, DILG Region 6 director Juan Jovian Ingeniero, and selected Lupon members of the said barangay.
Among the accomplishments of Barangay Abiera’s Lupong Tagapamayapa that led to its national recognition were actively acting on filed cases, regular meetings and service improvement training, proper coordination with concerned agencies, and a sustained information drive.
In August 2022, Barangay Abiera was named the Regional 2022 LTIA Champion and represented Western Visayas in the national level for the 4th to 5th class municipalities category.
On Sept. 7, 2022, a national validation process for the 2022 LTIA was conducted. Validators from the DILG central office and the Department of Justice – Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution personally went to Barangay Abiera, together with other national validators from the DILG-Bureau of Local Government Supervision, the National Police Commission, and the Supreme Court who joined online via Zoom.
For winning the award for two consecutive years – 2021 and 2022 – the barangay is now on its way to the LTIA Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, Barangay Lawa-an of Roxas City in Capiz province placed second runner-up for the component cities category.
Lupong Tagapamayapa serves as the peace council and justice system at the barangay level – the smallest political unit in the country.
The LTIA was established pursuant to Section 406(b) of the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160), which mandates the DILG to grant economic and other incentives to the Lupong Tagapamayapa for their outstanding contributions to attaining the objectives of Katarungang Pambarangay, or village justice./PN
