MANILA,
March 21 (PNA) -- Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno has enjoined the public to
suggest ways to improve the anti-illegal drugs drive of their respective
barangays during the Barangay Assembly to be held in villages across the
country on Saturday.
"In
the Barangay Assembly, the people have a voice… The people also have the duty
to help the Barangay Captain by suggesting ways to resolve the illegal drug problem
in the barangay," Sueno said in a news release issued by the Department of
the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
He
said the Barangay Assembly is open to all Filipino citizens, 15 years and above
who have been residents of the barangay for at least six months.
The
interior chief encouraged the people to attend the March 25 meeting, saying it
is the proper venue to discuss community concerns and learn how barangay
officials are spending barangay funds.
Sueno
meanwhile called on barangay officials to discuss with the people the MASA
MASID program, a barangay-based anti-criminality, anti-corruption, and
anti-illegal drugs program that encourages volunteerism at the community level.
MASA MASID stands for Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na
Droga.
Republic
Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 requires barangays to hold a
Barangay Assembly Day every last Saturday of March and second Sunday of October
to give their constituents a chance to hear the developments and discuss
concerns in their community.
