The national president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) has urged his colleagues in this province to strengthen their respective groups by establishing a harmonious relationship between and among themselves, together with the local government units for a better community development geared towards public service.

This was the primary message of ABC National President James Lim of Marinduque during his visit to the province wherein he met with all of the province’s barangay chairmen.

During the said meeting Lim proposed the holding of a convention among barangay officials in Ilocos Norte with an aim to work hand-in-hand to strengthen their political representation in the national government.

Lim also said that it had been observed in the past that some barangay officials in the province, especially chairmen, had been apparently used and influenced by powerful politicians to serve the politician’s interest.

To disprove this belief, Lim asked his peers to convene and interact with each other as well as the national ABC for them to come up with a unified stand in the numerous issues affecting the local community.

Lim also mentioned that he is aware of the fact that not all barangay chairmen had gone through formal education as he encouraged them to know their rights, functions and responsibilities.

Lim, who has been ABC national president for eight years now, further mentioned that Ilocos Norte, in terms of the ABC, is “missing in action” due to the apparent failure of the current ABC provincial officers to convene all local ABCs in the province.

Of the limited P24 billion allotted for 42,000 barangays in the country, Lim said local associations should be able to empower themselves from local sources through establishing better ties with their local government units.

He also advised local barangay officials in the province to familiarize themselves with the “Gabay Program” intended for elected officials in order for them to avail of the present benefits provided for them by the national government.

Leilanie G. Adriano