Councilor Marlo Tabac, chair of the committee on barangay affairs and president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, supported the Tambag Legal Caravan held recently at Barangay Gusa to capacitate barangay official and volunteers in giving access to justice to city residents.
Conducted by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)–Misamis Oriental Chapter, the activity provided orientation and training to additional Barangay Legal First Aiders from five barangays in the city.
Around 100 barangay officials and community volunteers from Barangays Gusa, Lapasan, Camaman-an, Bayabas, and Patag participated in the activity, which aimed to enhance their knowledge and capability in providing basic legal assistance and facilitating access to appropriate legal resources.
Tabac stressed the need for continued capacity-building and stronger collaboration between barangays and the legal profession, noting that barangays serve as the first point of contact for many residents seeking assistance with disputes and other community concerns.
The activity brought together barangay leaders, community volunteers, and members of the legal profession to strengthen the implementation of the Katarungang Pambarangay system and promote peaceful dispute resolution at the grassroots.
Speakers Atty. Regine Niog, Atty. Nielgem Sabay Beja, and Atty. Ernesto B. Neri, chairperson of the IBP Misamis Oriental Chapter Committee on Access to Justice, shared their knowledge and experience with the participants.
Tabac said initiatives such as the legal caravan help equip barangays to better respond to the needs of their constituents while making justice and basic legal guidance more accessible to the community.(JAO/SP)
“Our senior citizens continue to share their time, wisdom, and experience in helping maintain peace and their service through the Lupon Tagapamayapa deserves to be recognized and appropriately supported.”
Thus, said Councilor Gilda O. Go, chairperson of the committee on senior citizens, during the recent meeting of the committee on barangay affairs, which discussed the proposed ordinance institutionalizing performance-based benefits and incentives for members of the Lupon Tagapamayapa in all barangays of Cagayan de Oro City.
Go emphasized that the measure seeks to recognize the valuable role of Lupon members, particularly senior citizens, in helping settle community disputes through mediation and conciliation.
She said age should never be a reason for their contributions to public service to be overlooked, noting that their wisdom, experience, and continued willingness to serve remain valuable resources in promoting peace and harmony in the grassroots level.
She added that institutionalizing appropriate benefits and incentives would not only recognize the efforts of Lupon members but also encourage sustained and effective participation in the barangay justice system.
Go said the initiative reflects the city’s commitment to honoring senior citizens not only through words but by recognizing their meaningful contributions to their communities and to the people of Cagayan de Oro. (JAO/SP)
The City Council committee on health, nutrition, and health insurance chaired by Councilor Paolo Nicolo Gaane tackled the proposed ordinance regulating the use, sale, and distribution of cigarettes in certain places.
One of the highlights of the discussion was the provision on prohibited acts, particularly the use of the term “any public places” and its implications to existing national regulations on tobacco products.
Atty. Cancio M. Guibone, Jr. of Tobacco industry, who advised the committee on the alignment of the local ordinance with the existing national law, pointed out that under the national law, the sale of tobacco products is prohibited within 100 meters of school, public playground, or other facility frequented by minors, but not specified “public places.”
Meanwhile, Atty. Jose Edgardo “Egay” Uy, chair of Regulatory Compliance Board (RCB), argued that the national law provides for an absolute prohibition in specified areas, while the proposed city ordinance seeks to expand the regulation by covering additional public places within the city.
For her part, Atty. Cher Raya Kylene T. Madrid of City Legal Office, suggested to reviewing Section 4 of the proposed ordinance on the definition of terms, particularly the meaning of the word “public place.”
The discussion focused on ensuring that the proposed local measure is clearly worded and properly aligned with existing national laws while addressing the city’s public health concerns.
The committee will continue its review of the proposed ordinance, particularly the definition and coverage of prohibited places, and other recommendations from different agencies that will be incorporated in the proposed ordinance, before advancing the measure for further legislative action. (JBD/SP)
