Mass oathtaking of elected barangay, SK officials set on Nov. 10

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The city government here has invited all elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to attend the formal mass oathtaking set on November 10.

Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez will administer their oath of office in a ceremony at 6 p.m. at the SMX Convention Center here.

Benitez said they’re looking at about 976 public officials who will be joining the mass oathtaking.

“This is just to make sure that everybody is on board,” Benitez said, adding that each barangay has 16 officials. The city has a total of 61 barangays.

Benitez said that it is also a venue for the city to present good governance when it comes to barangay officials.

Based on the advisory of the Bacolod City Public Information Office, barangay and SK officials need to submit a copy of their Certificate of Canvass and Proclamation to the City Mayor’s Office on or before November 6.

Last week, Benitez issued a memorandum order instructing all incumbent barangay and SK officials to fast-track the conduct of the final inventory of the barangay and SK properties, financial records, documents and properties, (PFRDs), and money accountabilities pursuant to a memorandum of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The City Accountant, as chairperson of the City Assessment and Transition Team (CATT) was directed to coordinate and collaborate with the DILG city director and other members of the CATT.

There shall be a transition period not to exceed three weeks to ensure proper and smooth transition of governance, accountabilities, and actual turnover of the PFRDs, and to secure or comply with bonding requirements and other requisites under existing laws, rules, and regulations, according to Benitez.

“We have to make sure the inventory of assets sang mga barangays are accepted by newly-elected officials,” the mayor said.

Benitez said that all incumbent barangay officials are in a holdover capacity. Thus, newly-elected officials who were proclaimed and have taken their oath can technically assume office.

He said that he is waiting for the DILG to sit down and come up with a proper mechanism for a smooth transition.

“Requirements na lang kulang. Once satisfied, technically they can sit already as newly-elected barangay officials,” he added.

Meanwhile, Benitez said that he has heard several names who might run for Liga ng mga Barangay president here.

But, he noted that anybody is qualified to run.

“As we speak, damo na na ga grupohay. I will ask kung sin-o ila luyag. At the end of the day, sila ga decide,” Benitez said, adding that “we should respect that.”