|
Coming
home after the Congress bombing that killed a fellow lawmaker,
Cong. Edgar Chatto crisscrossed his district and challenged
the new barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders whom
he swore in during separate mass oath-takings in towns.
|
|
|
He
assured them of his full support in their local initiatives,
but not without also reminding them of the supreme responsibilities
attached to their mandate in preserving peace, promoting
social justice and community development.
The
First District congressman separately inducted the incoming
barangay and SK officials in Corella and Antequera on
Friday before swearing in those in Baclayon, Balilihan
and Dauis yesterday.
|
Chatto
will officiate today the respective mass oath-takings of the
new barangay and SK leaders in Sikatuna and Tubigon.
Himself
a serious public servant, Chatto challenged them to serve
with diligence, dedication and honesty worthy of the trust
manifested by their constituents through the ballots they
cast in the synchronized barangay and SK polls.
The
barangays, being the smallest unit of government that includes
the youth SK sector, can weaken its own structure or be rendered
inefficient and ineffective if their leaders disregard right
vigilance, Chatto hinted.
He
did not spare the SK officials from his challenge, telling
them to prove their worth as youth leaders and lead young
citizens.
Once
the Bohol head of the now-defunct Kabataang Barangay (KB)
at age 19. Chatto expressed strong trust in youths with the
right motivation and proper guidance.
Whether
the present SK should be reformed or abolished for a more
dynamic and effective set-up in the tradition of its predecessor
KB, Chatto emphasized the need to preserve the core value
of developing involvement of the young people in community
development and governance.
His
hope still springs eternal for the youths to enflame their
senses of volunteerism, nationalism, idealism and commitment
with or without compensation or honoraria.
Meanwhile,
the congressman thanked the outgoing barangay officials who
have worked with him hand in hand in delivering priority projects
and basic services to the grassroots.
Chatto's
district covers 327 barangays, 312 of them in 14 municipalities
and the remaining15 in Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol.
The
First District towns are Alburquerque, Antequera, Baclayon,
Balilihan, Calape, Catigbian, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Loon,
Maribojoc, Panglao, Sikatuna and Tubigon.
There are 203 new and 124 reelected barangay captains in the
First District as a result of the barangay election last October
29.
Not
less than 40 of them are women, a fact which for Chatto is
an indication of greater public recognition of the capacity
of the female kind in frontline governance.
Some
100 incumbent barangay captains serve their last term, which
disallows them from reelection.
A
number of them slid down to councilmen in the recent barangay
election while majority have chosen to retire after their
last term shall have expired on November 30 this year.
All
re-electionist captains won in Balilihan, Catigbian, Corella
and Panglao.
Across the district, most reelectionists in fact won.
Being
in the forefront of government, the barangay leaders can become
effective purveyors of development since by their direct contact
with the people they can readily identify the priority needs
of the community, Chatto said.
The
restless solon always finds more times for barangay concerns
even if he also regularly holds "People's Day" at
his residence in the city on Saturdays, attending to the needs
of his constituents from all walks of life.
|
