LnB-IN Chapter holds provincial congress 2025 in Batangas

1st INABEL provincial winners announced

The winners of the newly launched Ilocos Norte Award for Barangays Excellence in Legislation (INABEL) are given their awards during the Ilocos Norte Liga ng Mga Barangays (LnB) provincial congress 2025 held March 21-23, 2025 in Nasugbu, Batangas. They are: Brgy. 1 San Lorenzo Laoag City (City Category); Brgy. 11 San Fernando, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte (1st-3rd Class Municipal Category), and Brgy.  Caparispisan, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte (4th-5th Class Municipal Category). [Photos courtesy of LnB Ilocos Norte]

By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)

Nasugbu, Batangas—A total of 652 barangay officials from the entire Ilocos Norte participated in the Liga Ng Mga Barangay (LMB) Ilocos Norte Chapter provincial congress 2025 with the  theme: “Barangay Leaders Empowerment for the Nation’s Sustainable Growth and Development’’ held March 21-25, 2025 at Forest Crest Resort and Hotel in Nasugbu, Batangas.

LnB Provincial President and Sangguniang Panlalawigan ex-officio member Ryan John Pascua thanked all the participants saying “they are always the forefront of the local and national development for progress”.

Pascua emphasized the importance and the challenging roles of barangay leaders in the society stressing that they are the “best army in fighting against illegal matters in the operation of the barangay and likewise for the goodness of the community”.

The Liga also witnessed the “Best Practices of Batangas on Gender and Development”, including a tour of Tagaytay City in the province of Cavite.

Batangas LnB President Fernando Rocafort welcomed the Ilocos Norte delegates and thanking them for choosing Batangas to be the venue of the Liga Congress.

Laoag City DILG-LGOO VI Charis Garma discussed the Lupon Tagapamayapa Incentive Award (LTIA) overview and its legal basis; the regional schedule for CY 2025 implementation; awards committees and categories, and criteria and references for CY 2025 during the congress.

The LTIA is an annual search which recognizes the Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa which demonstrates exemplary performance and commendable contribution in the promotion and implementation of Katarunang Pambarangay.

The LTIA also aims to strengthen the Katarunang Pambarangay as a conflict resolution structure at the grassroots level; institutionalize a system among economic benefits and incentives to lupons; and generate greater awareness and support from the various sectors as potent vehicle towards social order and human development. 

Laoag DILG-LGOO VI Anthony Bareng, meanwhile, discussed the “Strengthening the Functionality of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC)”.

Bareng said BCPC is a barangay-based institution (BBI) that assists local and national authorities in the identification, implementation and monitoring the promotion of children welfare and the protection of their rights especially those focused on survival, development, protection and participation.

The BCPC is composed of local officials including child-focused institutions, NGOs and people’s and youth organizations who are consulted and participation ensured in planning and implementation of interventions and programs for children.

Bareng added that the BCPC shall be organized in all barangays through an ordinance approved by Sangguniang Barangay or by an executive order of the local chief executive.

Ilocos Norte DILG OIC-provincial director Atty. Gerald Gallardo, for his part,   discussed the grounds for administrative cases against barangay officials.

According to Gallardo, “Public office is public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency act with patriotism and justice and lead modest lives”.

He said that an elected local official may be disciplined, suspended or removed from office on any some of these grounds (Grounds for Disciplinary Actions, Sec.60, RA 7160): disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines; culpable violation of the Constitution, dishonesty, oppression, misconduct in the office, gross negligence or dereliction of duty; commission of any offense including moral turpitude or any offense punishable by at least prison mayor.

Meanwhile, Senator Imee R. Marcos also gave her message to the Barangay Officials with the good news that the scheduled barangay election in December this year might not push through.

Marcos said the Congress and the Senate has no final decision yet as to the proposed postponement for four or six years; however, there are two more weeks session on June to finally discuss the matter.

But the senator said she strongly believes that there will be no Barangay and SK elections  this December.

One of the highlights of the Congress is the awarding of the Sela of Good Local Governance for Barangays (SGLGB) national passers for 2024 and the awarding of winners of the newly launched Ilocos Norte Awards for Barangays Excellence in Governance (INABEL) for 2024. 

The INABEL Awards is a collaboration between DILG-Ilocos Norte through its Local Governance Provincial Resource Center (LGPRC) with the Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) Ilocos Norte Chapter and the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), that aims not only to recognize the efforts and exemplary performance of the Sangguniang Barangays in the current term (December 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024), but also to identify their performance gaps when it comes to legislation, thus serving as basis for policy-making and program design for barangays’ capacity development.

The provincial winners of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Award for Barangay Excellence in Legislation (INABEL): The Local Legislation Award Iti Ilocano Barangays 2025 are:

For the City Category, the provincial champion is the Sangguniang Barangay of San Lorenzo, Laoag City and the 1^st runner up is the Sangguniang Barangay of Caunayan, City of Batac.

Under the 1^st to 3^rd Class Municipality Category winners are: provincial champion: Sangguniang Barangay of San Fernando, San Nicolas; 1^st runner up: Sangguniang Barangay of Badio, Pinili and 2^nd runner up: Sangguniang Barangay of Barcelona, Solsona.

While in the 4^th to 5^th Class Municipality Category winners are: provincial champion: Sangguniang Barangay of Caparispisan, Pagudpud; 1^st runner up: Sangguniang Barangay of San Agustin, Paoay; and 2^nd runner up: Sangguniang Barangay of Barbaquezo, Carasi.

All the winners received a certificate of recognitions and cash prizes of PHP10,000; PHP7,500 and PHP5,000, respectively.

Three special awards were also given including the “Balay Pagabelan”, in recognition of having the best office set-up for legislators and demonstrating exceptional organization, efficiency, and dedication to public service.

The awardees are: City Category, Sangguniang Barangay of Caunayan, City of Batac; 1^st to 3^rd Class Municipalities, Sangguniang Barangay of Gabut Norte, Badoc; and 4^th to 5^th Class Municipalities, Sangguniang Barangay of Caparispisan, Pagudpud.

Another special award was the “Urnos Ti Inabel” in recognition of barangays; exceptional documentation and records management, demonstrating exceptional organization, accuracy, and efficiency in maintaining and preserving vital records of the barangay.

The winners are: Cities, Sangguniang Barangay of San Lorenzo, Laoag City; 1^st to 3^rd Class Municipalities, Sangguniang Barangay of Macupit, Bacarra; and 4^th to 5^th Class Municipalities: Sangguniang Barangays of San Agustin, Paoay and San Isidro, Sarrat.         

The last special award is the “Annayas Iti Panag-Abel” in recognition of barangays’ exemplary performance in parliamentary procedure, demonstrating exceptional knowledge, skills, and adherence to their internal rules of procedure.

The winners are: cities: Sangguniang Barangay of San Lorenzo, Laoag City; 1^st to 3^rd Class Municipalities, Sangguniang Barangay of San Fernando, San Nicolas; and 4^th to 5^th Class Municipalities: Sangguniang Barangays of Barbaquezo, Carasi and San Agustin, Paoay.