City Government of Valenzuela
Public Information Office
Valenzuela in Focus
March 27, 2008

Orientation Seminar of Barangay Newly-Elected Officials (NEO) Held

To develop the competencies of barangay officials to enable them to perform their roles and responsibilities as development managers, program implementers and service providers, an orientation seminar was conducted courtesy of Mayor Sherwin T. Gatchalian, ABC President Alvin S. Feliciano and DILG - Valenzuela City.

This substantiates the City Government and Mayor Sherwin T. Gatchalian’s full unwavering support to the barangays. “Taking into account the competitive and challenging environment facing our newly-elected barangay officials and recognizing the burden of their being the first line of defense of the city, they will certainly need more creative training programs to help them perform effectively. Gearing them up with appropriate knowledge will surely inspire them to perform well to serve their constituents. With learnings acquired through these seminars, they can be encouraged to participate actively in the preparation of the city development projects and activities,” he said.

The NEO Program is in line with the DILG's commitment to the Philippine Development Forum to come up with a holistic competence development intercession that will help local governments, including the barangays, come up with a development road map consistent with the current development agenda of the National Government.

“The DILG aims to provide the new Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) officials with the skills enhancement and orientation seminars and workshops on how to deal with their responsibilities,” Mrs. Cecilia P. Kwan, DILG - Valenzuela City Director, said.

The seminar conducted for three days at Maysan Barangay Hall included courses on barangay government structure and organization, barangay powers and services, duties, functions and benefits of barangay officials, basics of barangay development planning, barangay finance, barangay legislation, policy-making, program planning, basic services implementation and facilitation of basic services and facilities in their respective areas.

It also aims to strengthen the barangay-based institutions such as the Barangay Development Council, Barangay Peace and Order Council, Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council and the Lupong Tagapamayapa.