Now that the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) are happening in a week’s time, we in the officialdom of Manila join our beloved Mayor Honey Lacuna in her call for the residents to choose their leaders carefully.
Like her, I also believe that the barangay and youth leaders play a huge role in having a city that is peaceful, orderly and progressive.
The barangay happens to be the smallest political unit in this country. Each barangay is composed of elective officials called the Punong Barangay or Barangay Captain or Chairman who is the chief executive, the Sangguniang Barangay members, also called Kagawads and the Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman.
The appointive officials are the barangay Secretary, the barangay Treasurer, the members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa and the barangay Tanods.
The Punong Barangay, assumes the role of the chief executive officer of the barangay which falls under his or her jurisdiction.
He is in charge of implementing policies and programs that directly impact the lives of community members, ensuring peace, order and the overall welfare of constituents.
Too, the Punong Barangay ensures that all city ordinances passed by the Manila City Council and which take the form of local laws, are implemented to the letter.
The barangay officials are the ones who are most in touch with the grassroots level and therefore know the basic needs and wants of their constituents.
In a way, they also serve as the extension of the local government to the masses and vice versa.
It is also through the barangays that the city government is able to cascade any and all information that it would want to impart to Manila residents, including the free services that the local government offers.
If only for these reasons, it is highly important for all of us to choose very wisely who we vote for.
It is also equally mportant to ensure that the candidates we choose are not running for the purpose of enriching themselves once they get elected.
Let us look past the material benefits and take into foremost consideration the character and integrity of the candidates and their seriousness to really be of service to the public.
We have to remember that it is only during election day when people from all walks of life, rich or poor, are on equal footing.
On this very day, all of us are entitled to just one, single vote, no matter what our status in life may be. So please, let us not waste our vote.
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