Barangay execs ordered to conduct inventory of properties, financial records

Acting Interior Secretary Eduardo Año. (Photo by JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS / INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO)

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed all barangay (village) chairpersons to conduct an inventory of their respective financial records as well as properties currently under their custody.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said this move is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition between outgoing and incoming barangay officials since the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections would finally push through on May 14 after two postponements.

Año warned that barangay executives, who will fail to comply with the directive, would have their names submitted to their city mayor, the Office of the Ombudsman, and Commission on Audit for investigation.

“Failure by a concerned barangay official to turnover barangay properties, financial records, documents and money accountabilities assigned to him/her or under his/her custody may be a ground for the filing of criminal charges in accordance with the Revised Penal Code, and other existing laws,” the DILG chief said in a statement.

According to Año, each barangay must establish a Barangay Inventory Team (BIT) that would be headed by the chairperson while its members would include at least two barangay councilors, the barangay secretary and treasurer, a bookkeeper or city or municipal representative, and at least two civil society organization (CSO) representatives, preferably from a faith-based organization or members of the Barangay Development Council.

The BIT would be tasked to ensure the completeness of all barangay properties, supplies, financial records and documents (BPFRDs), including legislative and administrative records, transcript or minutes of meetings, list and status of complaints filed before the Lupong Tagapamayapa, updated registry of barangay inhabitants, list or inventory of current local or international development assisted projects, and all other documents containing barangay transactions.

“This is also part of our efforts to sustain transparent and accountable local governance at the barangay level and to further ensure that all concerned barangay officials exercise due diligence in using barangay funds and properties,” Año said.                     /kga