DILG enhance quality of justice in the barangay level

By RICKY J. BAUTISTA
November 18, 2008

BASEY, Samar  –  Mano Pepe, 54, a three-termed chairman in one of the village here admitted, that most of the time, he is hesitant from mediating disputes arising from his barangay due to his lack of proper knowledge in handling sensitive cases, and his being unacquainted on the legal aspects and technical terms related to barangay disputes.

And like the majority of the barangay chairmen in the remote areas, he feels so uneasy whenever he conduct an amicable settlement in their barangay because he is apprehensive that he might ended into a wrong judgment.

Receptive with this situation, the local office of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has, again, conducted a skills training “to equip the barangay leaders an inexpensive and a more expeditious way of settling disputes in the barangay level through mediation and or arbitration.”

In Basey, Mayor Wilfredo S. Estorninos issued a memorandum dated October 17 to all 51-barangay chairmen in his locality, including Mano Pepe, to attend this kind of skills training. He said, at least 500 participants composed of Punong Barangay, Brgy. Secretaries and Lupon Members attend the activity on Saturday, November 15.

The DILG in partnership with the Liga ng mga Barangay of Basey are closely supervised the activity.

Basey MLGOO Jaime “Mick” Dacurawat informed that Section 121 of the Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 mandates all the city and municipal mayors to oversee the efficient and effective implementation and administration of the Katarungang Pambarangay (KP) Law.

“In fact, DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2007-129 directed its compliance and encouraged the adoption of measures such as but not limited to the conduct of training for the KP and its value as an empowering tool for the resolution of community and family disputes at the barangay level,” Dacurawat said.

A primer of the Katarungang Pambarangay Law defined the system as one of the few issuances during the Martial Law Era that merited public approval. The main objective of the law is to help relieve the courts of the docket congestion; enhance the quality of justice dispensed by the courts; promote the speedy disposition of justice; and implement the constitutional mandate to preserve and develop Filipino culture and to strengthen the family as a basic social institution.

Meanwhile, Mano Pepe, when interviewed back by this writer, expressed his happiness and willingness in attending the said training. He has, in fact, informed his team of Lupon Members in his barangay to prioritize their attendance.