New city in Samar convenes barangay officials for skills training in barangay management and budgeting

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
January 29, 2008

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  Some 171 barangay officials have convened in Catbalogan City for a seminar-workshop on New Elected Officials Skills Development Training.

Barangay officials in the 57 barangays of Catbalogan City include the Punong Barangay, Barangay Treasurer and the Barangay Kagawad Chairman on Appropriations. They will be sweating it out for five working days at Cocina de Cabral, Catbalogan City from January 28 to February 1, 2008.

City Local Government Operations Officer (CLGOO) Leonardo Sarzata said the barangay officials, most of whom are new would be trained on taxing powers of the barangay, revenue generation, disbursement procedure and budgeting.

Aside from the mentioned topics, the officials would also be expected to produce an Annual Investment Plan (AIP).

Barangay Captain Antonio Pandong from Guindapunan said he is willing to stay for the whole duration of the training to learn the rudiments of budgeting.

One media personality however, questioned the long training period.

Barangay Captain Virginia Tabon of Basiao said that the long period is allotted so that the attendees would learn the lessons.

“This is to empower us barangay officials to manage the affairs of the barangay, which is our primordial concern.” said Tabon.

The officials will also have to organize special bodies like the Barangay Development Council, Peace and Order Council, Disaster Coordinating Council, Local Council for the Protection of Children, and the Senior Citizens Federation, according to Sarzata.