Abalos shoo-in for Mangaldan’s ABC top post

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – The young but seasoned village chief (barangay captain) of Barangay Maasin is a shoo-in for the election of the presidency of the prestigious Liga ng Barangay (LnB) here on July 16, 2018.

Rolly Gubatan Abalos, 43, cited that he and his slate in the LnB (the former Association of Barangays Council) were unopposed after they filled on the first day of the three days of the filling of candidacy that started last July 9 and ended on July 11 this year.

The LnB's electoral exercise is under the supervision of the Department of Interior & Local Government.

LIGA PREXY - Maasin, Mangaldan Punong Barangay Rolly Gubatan Abalos poses with former Congresswoman Gina de Venecia in a social function somewhere in the Fourth Congressional District of Pangasinan. Rep. Christopher de Venecia and Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno, sources said, are supporting the election of Abalos as the top man of the Liga ng Barangay (LnB).The LnB’s post means membership in the nine men Sangguniang Bayan (legislative council) of the thriving town.

Abalos, a successful businessman, eyes information dissemination and dialogues among the 30 punong barangays here, improvement of the cooperation among fellow captains, and construction of the Liga’s building here where the members of the Liga can meet and thresh-out what the best for them and this town.

“Ayusin natin iyong samahan na nawala para mas magiging matibay ang samahan para at least makapag trabaho sila ng maayos doon sa kanilang mga barangay,” he stressed.

The oath taking and proclamation of Abalos on July 16 will make him as ex –officio councilor of the nine members’ Sangguniang Bayan (legislative council) under the stewardship of Vice Mayor Pedro Surdilla.

        The LnB under Abalos, a close supporter of Rep. Christopher de Venecia, has the  following members:

President: Punong Barangay (PB) Abalos; Vice President: Amansabina PB Twinkle S. Aquino; Auditor: PB Mario S. Carbonel. 

Board of Directors

 PB Marlon Tibig (Treasurer); PB Alexander Lomibao (Secretary); PB Hermogenes Sembrano; PB Jaylord Prestoza; PB Reynaldo Narvasa; PB Mario Bautista; PB Vilma Nipales,and ; PB Maria Datlog.

Sources here said that it is not only the De Venecia’s family but this burgeoning town mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno that vigorously support the candidacy of Abalos.

A kin of Abalos told this paper that after his election in the morning of July 16, Abalos will be attending on that afternoon his first session as a member of this town's august chamber.
According to the timeline of the DILG, the process of electing LnB leaders for the Component City and Municipal LnB Chapters shall start on June 25 until the proclamation day on July 16 followed by Provincial, Metropolitan, Highly Urbanized City, and Independent Component City Chapters on July 16-30, 2018.

In Pangasinan, reports said that the election of the provincial presidency of the LnB will be between reelectionist Sta. Barbara LnB President Jinky Zaplan and Alaminos City LnB President Arth Bryan Celeste.

The winner of this poll will become a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or Provincial Board.

Zaplan is the wife of Sta. Barbara Mayor Lito Zaplan while Celeste is the son of Alaminos City Mayor Art Celeste.

    Article One of the 1991 Local Government Code of the Philippines.

      - Liga ng Mga Barangay

 SECTION 491. Purpose of Organization. - There shall be an organization of all Barangays to be known as the liga ng mga Barangay for the primary purpose of determining the representation of the Liga in the sanggunians, and for ventilating, articulating and crystallizing issues affecting Barangay government administration and securing, through proper and legal means, solutions thereto. SECTION 492. Representation, Chapters, National Liga. - Every Barangay shall be represented in said liga by the Punong Barangay, or in his absence or incapacity, by a sanggunian member duly elected for the purpose among its members, who shall attend all meetings or deliberations called by the different chapters of the liga. The liga shall have chapters at the municipal, city, provincial and metropolitan political subdivision levels. The municipal and city chapters of the liga shall be composed of the Barangay representatives of municipal and city Barangays, respectively. The duly elected presidents of component municipal and city chapters shall constitute the provincial chapter or the metropolitan political subdivision chapter. The duly elected presidents of highly-urbanized cities, provincial chapters, the Metropolitan Manila chapter and metropolitan political subdivision chapters shall constitute the National Liga ng mga Barangay. SECTION 493. Organization. - The liga at the municipal, city, provincial, metropolitan political subdivision, and national levels directly elect a president, a vice- president, and five (5) members of the board of directors. The board shall appoint its Secretary and treasurer and create such other positions as it may deem necessary for the management of the chapter. A Secretarygeneral shall be elected from among the members of the national liga and shall be charged with the overall operation of the liga on the national level. The board shall coordinate the activities of the chapters of the liga. SECTION 494. Ex-Officio Membership in Sanggunians. - The duly elected presidents of the liga at the municipal, city and provincial levels, including the component cities and municipalities of Metropolitan Manila, shall serve as ex-officio members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, respectively. They shall serve as such only during their term of office as presidents of the liga chapters, which in no case shall be beyond the term of office of the sanggunian concerned. SECTION 495. Powers, Functions and Duties of the Liga. - The Liga shall: (a) Give priority to programs designed for the total development of the Barangays and in consonance with the policies, programs and projects of the national government ; (b) Assist in the education of Barangay residents for people's participation in local government administration in order to promote united and concerted action to achieve country-wide development goals; (c) Supplement the efforts of government in creating gainful employment within the Barangay; (d) Adopt measures to promote the welfare of Barangay officials; (e) Serve as a forum of the Barangays in order to forge linkages with government and nongovernmental organizations and thereby promote the social, economic and political wellbeing of the Barangays; and (f) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions which will bring about stronger ties between Barangays and promote the welfare of the Barangay inhabitants.