THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government XI urged the municipalities to assist the newly elected Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan Officials (BSKO) during the three-week transition period.
DILG XI regional director Alex Roldan recognized that some barangays are unprepared for the turnover of the newly elected officials who themselves are not totally ready to assume the position.
“Dili automatic kay kailangan pa na og resolusyon sa barangay og appointment para sa bag o, kinahanglan nga mahan-ay kay kung immediately man gud, mag unsa sya didto sa barangay?” Roldan said during the Davao City Disaster Radio episode on Nov. 3.
Roldan said they expect the municipalities to be prepared as inventory and transition teams were deployed months before the elections to ensure a smooth transition for the incoming officials.
The city and municipality mayors are responsible for conducting assessments of Properties, Financial Records, Documents and Properties (PFRDs), and money accountabilities. Outgoing BSKO, meanwhile, is accountable for the final inventory and turnover of records.
Roldan said the incoming officials will be liable to whatever was turned over to them. ” Dapat i-assume nga responsibility sa mo take over. Ang mo take over di pud na sya modawat, hangtud di maklaro ang matag item nga gideklarar sa inbentaryo nga gi turn over ngadto kaniya,” he added.
For instance, newly elected officials may not receive the documents and records if they are found to be lacking during evaluation.
He urged the outgoing BSKO to also assist in the transition to prevent any political chaos and misunderstanding between the two parties, recalling an incident where the newly elected barangay chief couldn’t assume his position as the outgoing official took the barangay properties with him.
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos issued MC No. 2023-166 or the guidelines on the assumption of office of the BSKO last Oct 31, following the advice of the Commission on Elections that winning BSKE bets can immediately assume office upon taking their oaths.
Meanwhile, Roldan said keeping the old barangay secretary and treasurer would be beneficial to the new administration due to their knowledge of procedures and bureaucracy. But it’s still the discretion of the incoming officials.
While SK can now receive an honorarium, he said they can hire and appoint their own secretary and treasurer for the council, depending on the budget allocation.
The regional director urged the incoming BSKO to be true to their service to people and not think of it as a “get-rich-quick” scheme. Officials must attend mandatory training and seminars by the DILG and the National Youth Commission before assuming office.
