LMB holds 2024 nat’l congress in Manila

LMB-IN Chapter President and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ryan John Pascua ex-officio member (top left) leads the Ilocos Norte delegation in the 2024 National Congress held at SMX Convention in Pasay City with the LGU San Nicolas delegates (bottom). Special guest Senator Imee Marcos (top right) discussed and personally presented her proposed Senate Bill 2629 extending the term of barangay and SK Officials from 3 years to 6 years. (Photo by Jenalyn Bumanglag)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz., Staff Reporter

Pasay City—A total of 492 members of the Liga Ng Mga Barangay (LMB) Ilocos Norte Chapter headed by Brgy.  Badio, Pinili punong barangay (PB)  and Sangguniang Panlalawigan  Ryan John Pascua attended the 2024 National Congress held in SMX Convention Center, Pasay City from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, 2024.

The national congress with the theme “Liga ng Mga Barangay: Powering up in our service for others”, focused on crucial topics which aim to eradicate gender-based violence under Republic Act 9262, otherwise known as the “Anti Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004”; special protection of children against abuse, exploitation and discrimination; and disaster preparedness measure.

During the Congress proper, Pag-IBIG Fund trustee Maria Lourdes Doria Velarde and Pag-IBIG Fund acting vice president for NCR North East Group. Domingo Jacinto Jr. discussed the “Pag-IBIG para sa Brgy.” program.

SSS President and CEO Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, for his part, discussed the value of being an SSS member; Autokid Truck Solutions business unit head  Edison Espinosa discussed the driving community solutions; and OIC, DRRM Development and Standards Division, Policy Development and Planning Service, Office of Civil Defense Raque De Leon discussed barangay disasters risk reduction and management/disaster resilience measures and how to handle VAWC during such exigent circumstances.

LMB National President Maria Katrina Jessica G. Dy welcomed all the delegates that comprising the sixth Cluster coming from the different parts of the country including the Ilocos Norte delegates.

Dy discussed the importance of the “Serbisyong May Puso” manual which was distributed to all the PB’s about the simplified Local Government Code and about the importance of VAWC as reference.

Dy explained the focus mainly on VAW. “Kasi nga ang pinag-uusapan dito ay buhay, buhay na po ang nakataya dito. Buhay at kinabukasan n gating bansa. Itong mga naaapi at naabuso na mga kababaihan at lalong-lalo na ang mga kabataan, ay sila ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa’’.    

Records show, according to Dy, that the Philippines has the second to the highest crime incidents worldwide with regards to VAWC, specifically online sexual abuse for children.

“Tayo po sa barangay as front liners, tayo po ang unang magbibigay ng proteksyon sa ating mga kabarangay. Dahil dito kailangan natin buksan ang ating mga mata, taynga at mga puso at pakinggan natin ang tahimik na sigaw ng mga taong walang boses sa ating lipunan dahil kanino pa sila aasa kundi tayong mga barangay officials,” Dy noted

Other speakers were PNP P/Maj. Meriel Edita Reyes for the Status of VAWC in the Philippines; Batangas Office of the City Prosecutor DOJ Assistant State Prosecutor Claire Eufracia Pagayanan for Understanding VAWC and Gender-Based Violence Cases: Legal Framework and Procedural Process of Adjudication; and DILG Assec. Jesi Howard Lanete for the Barangay Participation in VAWC: What is he role of the Barangay.

Special guests who gave their inspirational messages through video were House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and Lito Lapid, and His Excellency, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Other guests who personally gave their messages were Senators Francis Tolentino, Christopher “Bong” Go, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and Senator Imee Marcos.

Marcos discussed her proposed bill extending the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) officials supposedly from three years to six years. 

Among the reasons for this, according to Marcos, is the frequency of elections that are being held wherein the government would spend huge amount of money. She noted that the national government spent P18 billion for the BSK election last year. 

The senator hopes that all members of the LMP would support her bill, “[A]t sana tulungan niyo din ako para mai-push kasi ang problema ngayon ay kakaunti na ang panahon”.

Relative to this, the Senator asked all the members of the LMP to pass a resolution expressing their support for Senate Bill 2629.

IN-LMB President Pascua expressed his gratitude to all the 492 barangay official for their support to the Liga ng Mga Barangay.

“Daytoy kaadu iti nagatendar ket ipasimudaag na iti adda pinagkaykaysa ken pinagkikinnammayet ti amin a miyembro iti kakapitanes iti sibubukel a probinsia ti Ilocos Norte ket sapay la kuma ta agtultuloy iti kastoy a nasinged a pinagkakadwa para iti progreso ken pinag dur-as ti amin a barangay iti probinsiya tayo”, Pascua said.

Pascua likewise thanked Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Joseph M. Manotoc, Reps. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” R. Marcos, Eugenio Angelo M. Barba, Senator Imee Marcos and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for their continued support for the LMB Ilocos Norte Chapter.

Pascua hopes that the Marcos’ proposed Senate bill will become a law so that the punong barangays will have more time to serve their respective constituents.

“Tapnu agtul-tuloy pay ti inkam pinagserbi kadagiti ay-ayaten mi a kabarangayan mi  ken at-atiddog met iti tiempo a pinagaramid mi iti gakat a maimplementar para iti pagsayaatan dagiti kabarangayan mi,” Pascua explained.