Zone III ‘Lupon’ ready for Regional Evaluation
It had been a busy pre-production days in the Lupong Tagapamayapa office for nearly two weeks. Key players go back and forth, while technical team lay the groundwork for producing a creative video that will highlight the extraordinary Katarungang Pambarangay or Barangay Justice System of Zone III.
Barangay Zone III was named the winner of the 2023 Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards – City Level by the Department of Interior and Local Government, and is now vying at the Regional Level.
The Interior and Local Government of South Cotabato and Koronadal conducted a coaching activity as part of their preparation. The Barangay Poblacion, Tupi, a Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards (LTIA) hall of famer, lends an open hand in document preparation. They also collaborated with the City Information Office to create a video presentation highlighting the Lupon of the said barangay, including best practices and local initiative programs.
The said barangay was recognized for having achieved 100 percent efficiency and effectiveness in the extrajudicial resolution of minor disputes between barangay residents. The use of traditional and alternative dispute resolution methods at the barangay level promotes the prompt administration of justice.
On April 12, during the “Tingog sang Pagsanyog” FB Live Development Program, Barangay Captain Delia Carmelo and Councilor Edison Peñalosa shared some best practices found only in their barangay. In fact, some Barangay Government Units paid a visit to Barangay Zone III in order to benchmark.
Carmelo, on the other hand, stressed the importance of having Lupon who are “professionally oriented” and skilled in case resolution. Peñalosa went on to say that a Lupon must be impartial and free of politics. CLGOO Jennifer Fernandez believes that an effective Lupon requires integrity and freedom of thought.
Barangay Zone III was able to create local initiatives that impressed the evaluators as a result of benchmarking activities and a series of consultations with other barangays that previously dominated the aforesaid competition. One of their initiatives has been the use of e-governance, which is an online tool used to keep track of important case data and records, which has greatly aided the barangay. The system was used by the Barangay to make their job easier while also protecting important data. They can easily access records that are all printable if necessary by using the system.
The anger wall and a punching pain where people can vent their rage, as well as a wishing well where people can express themselves, are also among their best practices. Their “Wheel of Justice” provides comfort to troubled families, with Barangay Captain Carmelo usually conducting a pre-trial in the privacy of their own home. They also offer free transportation to and from the barangay and back to their homes. Prior to each trial at the Pangkat Tagapagkasundo, the complainant draws a card with a picture of the Lupon on it. The case will be settled by whoever they picked. This is done to ensure transparency.
According to Carmelo, they were able to resolve all of the cases at their level from 2022-2023 with no court endorsement. Among their secrets are good motivation, good communication, and the company of a united Lupon willing to share their gift of person.
The LTIA Regional Evaluators will visit the barangay on April 25. Zone III will advance to the national competition if they achieve a score of 90% or higher.