LAGAWE, IFUGAO – It is back to the spirited campaigning mode for some of Banaue’s village chieftains who were elected in the May 14 polls. This time around they are seeking the much-coveted position of president of the municipal Association of Barangay Captains (ABC).
Elections are scheduled on May 29 at the Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel.
The other position at stake is for the vice president.
Banaue has over 13,000 voters. It ranks third in the most number of voters in a province with 11 towns.
There are 18 villages in Banaue. Elections in this scenic town were generally orderly and peaceful. Voters also chose their officials for the Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council).
This early, it is still a toss-up among the reported contenders for the ABC’s top post.
Eligible to contest it include Punong Barangays Flordeliz Dumulag of Poblacion, Samuel Baguilat of Amganad, Lamberto LImmid of Anaba, Delfin Tinapay of Balawis, Ernesto Tumapang of Bangaan, Joseph Hocha of Banao, Romeo Heppog of Batad, Allan Cutiyog of Bocos, Bob Binohlan of Cambulo, Clarita Uyan of Ducligan, Glenn Immoliap of Gohang, Henry Duntugan of Kinakin, Marcos Mulao of Poitan, Montes Cattit of Pula, Julius Tayaban of Tam-an, Romeo Bayucca of Uhaj, Roger Kindipan of Viewpoint and Peter Cayong of San Fernando.
Anyone of them needs ten votes to gain the presidency. In a two-way race, a tie is possible. Tossing the coin shall break the tie. There are no complications if there are three or more candidates.
The outgoing ABC president is Punong Barangay Genoveva Pocopio of Bocos. Pocopio’s term in office was prosperous. She aired the sentiments of her colleagues and articulated the needs and wants of the downtrodden at the Sangguniang Bayan.
Yielding enormous power and influence in the grassroots level, the next ABC president
shall become an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council). In other words, he or she assumes the position of Councilor. If he or she seeks better fortunes, the next arena to throws one’s hat is the provincial ABC Federation. Only one of the 11 municipal ABC presidents ends up at the helm as Ifugao ABC Federation president. He or she, in turn, gets to seat an ex-officio member of the powerful and influential Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council). For short, he or she earns the distinction of being called a Board Member.
The outgoing Ifugao ABC Federation president is Board Member Victor Bunnol Sr. of Lamut.
It bears noting, more importantly, that while the honorarium of the Punong Barangay is from Php 4,000 to Php 6,000 a month (in a fourth-class municipality) and the salary of the Councilor is from Php 18,000 to Php 25,000 a month (in a fourth-class municipality), the salary of a Board Member in Ifugao is Php 65,000 a month. It also comes with numerous perks.
The Board Member is principally a lawmaker. It is extremely hard for a legislator to recede from public and political scene even when the council is in recess because the ordinances and resolutions he or she authors are closely scrutinized by the people. The successor of Board Member Bunnol Sr. shall in all likelihood get the chairmanship of the committee on barangay affairs. He or she also gets to be a vice-chair of a standing Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee. Another important task is attending committee hearings, usually on a Wednesday. The SP holds its weekly sessions on a Tuesday. He or she likewise is joining the Provincial Board Member League of the Philippines (PBMLP). His or her time is moreover consumed by the activities of the Philippine Councilors League of the Philippines (PCLP) to a certain extent.
In the long run, the Ifugao ABC president champions several advocacies, including the improvement of conditions of overworked but underpaid barangay government officials, most especially in remote villages.
Much work remains ahead of the next Ifugao ABC president. Poverty is rampant in the province’s 176 villages. Little progress has been made in the delivery of fundamental services to the people. Many are demanding the infusion of more funds for development projects as thousands rise out of abject poverty. Barangay council officials of this upland Cordillera province are in dire need of an innovative program to upgrade their skills and competencies to subsequently achieve a prosperous, inclusive and resilient Ifugao. Seminars are essential in sharpening and strengthening the capacity of officials so that barangays are transform as effective channels of development in creating a path of self-reliant communities. Yet, these endeavors are seldom conducted. Many are hoping for a breakthrough this time around with the influx of well-meaning officials.
There are still gender gaps in governance at the grassroots level here. Only two (20%) female village chieftains emerged winners in the just-concluded synchronized barangay and SK polls. Twenty six (21%) female candidates were elected for the position of Kagawad (councilman). At stake: 126 seats. The small proportion of women in barangay governance compared to men’s make “political empowerment clearly a gender concern. There is still little understanding of the needs and concerns of women, especially those in distant, underserved villages, as well as of factors that inhibit their participation in the decision-making process.
“This is really a momentous event (Banaue ABC polls on May 29), history unfolding right before our eyes,” Banaue election officer Johnny Biniahan said.
“We will take into consideration a number of factors on how they decide to support whom,” Biniahan told the ZigZag Weekly.
The Punong Barangay is the chief executive of a village. As head of the Sangguniang Barangay, the Punong Barangay or Barangay Captain performs various tasks of an area manager.
But what, exactly, are the 18 newly-elected village chieftains expecting? The process of forming the municipal ABC chapter is no longer simple. Duties and responsibilities of the Punong Barangay are already complicated. Even more so now, with Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to be guided at most times.
Emphasizing the importance of taking into account of the needs of various communities in barangay, the municipal ABC chapter president and other officials are in quandary when it comes to meager resources at hand. In that case, the position of president is a launching pad for the highest position at stake province-wide for obvious reasons of securing additional funds for the town’s 18 villages.
Although the ABC polls are not given sufficient attention by the people, little doubt exists that the association’s premiere post serves as a springboard for many upstarts in the grassroots level.
The decision of the 18 village chieftains on crunch time could have “a significant impact” on electing the next Ifugao ABC Federation president, by possibly putting up a “winnable” candidate in the first place.
The extensive knowledge of the next Banaue ABC president on the promotion of sustainable development and protecting and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and people in vulnerable situations shall consequently set him or her apart from the other municipal ABC presidents who are aspiring for the same position.
Questioned on the possibility of electing a “winnable” candidate for the Ifugao ABC Federation president, a Poblacion resident said that would depend on reaching it out to the widest majority of village heads through charismatic and intellectual appeal and help from the Almighty Creator.
She explained that while “money” is a major factor in determining electoral exercises in the country, qualifications of aspirants should prevail in the outcome of any political contest for the interest of the common good. She bewailed the so-called “peso-nality mentality” prevailing in Ifugao.
In many parts of the country, unscrupulous, moneyed politicians have found ingenious ways to get around election laws and resort to vote-buying schemes during elections.
Strong interest and good knowledge of major issues matter most. This way, it will give one enough time to separate the boys from the men. Ask the ABC bets the following questions: What is your stand on the federalism issue? In the future, what is your plan to curb the malnutrition and unemployment problems in the province?
Will there be a transfer of the seat of power in the Ifugao ABC Federation from Lamut to Banaue?
And then, by May 29, it is possible that this scenario will be unfolded because strictly speaking Banaue is known for breeding outstanding public servants.
In a related development, Banaue Mayor Jerry Dalipog lauded punong barangays who passionately address advocacies of the people and take on roles in leadership, decision-making and governance.
“We recognize the role of Punong Barangays in ensuring our future,” Mayor Dalipog said.
Banaue, along with coincidentally Lamut and Asipulo towns, was conferred the Seal of Good Local Governance by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in 2017. With it comes along the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) incentive of Php 3 million for funding of vital projects such as Konkreto at Ayos na Lansangan at Daan Tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran (Kalsada) and Assistance to Municipalities (formerly Bottom-Up Budgeting and Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities).
All-out support for barangay development projects has been the centerpiece of the Dalipog administration. Mayor Dalipog’s commitment to depend and stand by barangay council officials, in turn, is keeping grassroots leaders’ resolve to strive harder knocking and pounding stronger each day. This pro-barangay stance of Mayor Dalipog only precludes the fact that by noon of June 30 when barangay council officials assume office they are securely and comfortably back on track.
Mayor Dalipog has been widely hailed for propelling the progress of Banaue, a predominantly agriculture town where the World Heritage Site-declared rice terraces are situated. Banaue in the second district of Ifugao is located north of Hingyon town. **By Anthony A. Araos
