By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter
Laoag City—After a series of runner-up finishes, this city’s Brgy. 1 finally topped the national search for the best Lupong Tagapamayapa for 2015.
The Dept. of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) formally relayed this information to DILG regional director Julie Daquioag in a letter dated August 30, 2016.
The letter informed that Brgy. 1 (San Lorenzo) is the national winner in the 2015 Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards (LTIA).
Relative to this, the BLGS regional officer-in-charge Manuel Gotis requested the barangay’s treasurer or any authorized representative to personally receive the cash prize amounting to P300,000.
The formal awarding has not been scheduled as of press time. It is however believed that this would be in time for the DILG anniversary in October.
Barangay 1 chairperson Darwin Domingo thanked his fellow barangay officials and his constituents for their “cooperation and support in maintaining peace and order” in his barangay.
Barangay 1 has been a repeat regional winner since 2009 but always failed in bagging the top prize in the national level.
The 2015 edition finally brought the said barangay over the hump by winning in the component city category.
Mr. Domingo, who earlier made a failed run at the Laoag council in the last elections, said the proper recording of documents; resolution of at least 90 percent of cases filed through amicable settlements; and standard proceedings gave Brgy. 1 the edge in the said search.
He added that the barangay also introduces innovations in resolving cases in the barangay.
As for the prize money, Mr. Domingo said they are not sure where to use it since the Lupong Tagapamayapa office is already fully equipped.
He said they may use it for training of Katarungan Pambarangay and Lupong Tagapamayapa members.
The LTIA was established pursuant to Section 406(b) of the Local Government Code of 1991 and Executive Order No. 394, s. 1997.
This is in recognition of the Lupong Tagapamayapa’s contribution in the promotion of the Katarungang Pambarangay’s (KP) objective; to strengthen the efficacy of the KP as an indigenous mediation structure capable of resolving disputes within a community, and beyond the formal courts of justice.
It aims to institutionalize a system of granting economic benefits and other incentives to Lupong Tagapamayapa for reason of exemplary performance in settling disputes within their community.
LTIA has three major criteria, namely: efficiency in the operations of the Lupong Tagapamayapa; effectiveness in attaining the Katarungang Pambarangay objectives; and creativity and resourcefulness in the administration of KP.
The Award has four categories: highly urbanized cities; component cities; 1st-3rdclass municipalities; and 4th-6th class municipalities.