By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter
Laoag City—The city government here has institutionalized the system in recognizing and providing incentives and awards for the search for Best Performing Barangays, now dubbed “Masigasig, Mapagkakatiwalaan at Matapat para sa Kaunlaran (MMMK)”.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod passed an ordinance that officially creates the best barangay search.
Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos-Keon certified the bill as “urgent”, and the council members present during the December 10, 2019 session unanimously approved the measure.
Laoag councilor Roque Benjamin Ablan, the ordinance’s author, said the competition will focus on the exemplary performance of all the city’s 80 barangays in their duties and functions that is aligned to the aims of the new administration under the new Laoag mayor.
The new administration envisions every barangay to be more strengthened in order to upgrade continually the quality of local leadership and to provide awards and incentives to the performing barangays.
This will also encourage and challenge the barangays to give better services by improving their performances and practices towards good governance, Mr. Ablan said.
To win the award, the barangay should pass the three foundation areas: peace and order; financial administration; and disaster preparedness.
Other Criteria include the barangay’s participation in social protection, business-friendliness, and competitiveness and environmental management.
The awards committee members are the Laoag mayor, vice mayor and the city administrator wherein they will initiate and coordinate activities necessary for the successful implementation of MMMK search within the city.
The committee also provides logistics in the conduct of evaluation in the 80 barangays; allocate funds needed for the awards/citations/prizes of winners; and determine the schedule of the awarding of the performing barangays.
Aside from the awards committee, an assessment committee will also be formed, with the members are the SP committee on barangay affairs, the city social welfare officer, city health officer, and the Liga ng mga Barangay president.
Mr. Ablan said MMMK winners will receive certificate/plaque with cash prizes known as the “MMMK Performance Fund”.
Cash prizes will be determined by the awards committee subject to the number of passers and available fund allocated.
Mr. Ablan also mentioned that cash incentive awards should be strictly used for development project, capability building program of barangay officials or for operating expenses provided that a proposal be submitted and approved prior to its release.
Initial fund allocation of the said search is PHP400,000 from the Office of the City Mayor.
The competition begins in 2020 and will be every second quarter of every year.