BORACAY ISLAND, AKLAN — The Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas – Negros Oriental Chapter conducted its first quarter General Assembly for Calendar Year 2026 from March 26 to 28, 2026, bringing together barangay officials and government representatives from across the province for a comprehensive three-day program focused on governance, gender responsiveness, and disaster resilience.
The assembly, held at the Paradise Garden Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Boracay, carried the theme "Integrating Gender Responsiveness and Disaster Resilience into the Barangay Governance Framework." The event featured technical sessions, policy discussions, and organizational meetings designed to strengthen grassroots governance across Negros Oriental's municipalities.
Provincial Leaders Address Governance Challenges
Negros Oriental Liga President Barangay Chairman Shaquille T. Teves delivered the welcome remarks during the March 26 opening ceremonies, emphasizing the critical role of barangay leaders in strengthening grassroots governance throughout the province. The evening program included standard preliminaries featuring the Philippine National Anthem, Negros Oriental Hymn, and Liga Hymn.
Messages of support were delivered by key provincial officials, including Dumaguete City Councilor Melissa Sagarbarria, PCL Negros Oriental President Bruno G. Bouffard III, and Farah Diba G. Gentuya, Provincial Director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. These officials were formally identified in the official printed program for the event.
The opening evening also incorporated intermission segments, raffles, and a dinner reception attended by participants representing various municipalities across Negros Oriental province.
Technical Sessions Focus on Gender and Development
The second day, March 27, concentrated on technical sessions and policy-oriented discussions critical to modern barangay governance. The morning program began with opening preliminaries before transitioning into specialized lectures led by government officials and subject matter experts.
Farah Diba G. Gentuya conducted a session titled "Leadership Lessons from Women Champions: Anti-Epal Policy," which highlighted governance standards and accountability measures in public service. The presentation addressed contemporary challenges facing local government units in maintaining transparency and ethical leadership practices.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Hillton John V. Edrial delivered a comprehensive presentation on the Safe Spaces Act, gender-fair language implementation, and Gender and Development and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) frameworks. This session provided barangay officials with practical tools for creating more inclusive local governance structures.
Military Commander Addresses Peace and Resilience
Lt. Col. Elmar Salvador, commanding officer of the 82nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, conducted a specialized session on sustaining peace and strengthening disaster resilience at the community level. The presentation addressed security challenges and disaster preparedness strategies relevant to Negros Oriental's geographic and social landscape.
DILG officer Klin C. Mendez led gender sensitivity training and barangay-level Gender and Development (GAD) planning sessions, providing participants with frameworks for implementing gender-responsive policies in their respective communities. These sessions addressed practical implementation challenges faced by rural and urban barangays across the province.
Anti-Drug and Peace Council Operations
DILG Program Manager Jaqueline T. Barilea facilitated comprehensive sessions on Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) functionality and Barangay Peace and Order Council (BPOC) audits. These presentations provided barangay officials with updated protocols and assessment criteria for maintaining effective anti-drug programs and peace and order initiatives.
An open forum session allowed participants to raise questions and seek clarification on policy implementation concerns specific to their municipalities. The interactive format enabled direct dialogue between provincial officials and grassroots leaders regarding practical governance challenges.
Assembly Venue and Logistics
The Paradise Garden Resort Hotel and Convention Center served as the primary venue for plenary sessions and formal proceedings. Additional activities, including meals and accommodation, were distributed across affiliated resorts throughout Boracay, including Henann Seabreeze, demonstrating the scale of the provincial gathering.
The afternoon of March 27 included designated free time and benchmarking activities, followed by an evening dinner program. Program documents indicate that the assembly incorporated both formal educational sessions and scheduled networking activities as integral components of the overall leadership development initiative.
Provincial Council Concludes Three-Day Program
On the final day, March 28, participants convened for a Provincial Council Meeting before checking out at noon, formally concluding the three-day gathering. The meeting addressed organizational matters and planning for subsequent quarter activities.
The Liga ng mga Barangay operates as a nationwide organization representing barangay officials and serves as a crucial platform for coordination, policy dissemination, and leadership development at the grassroots level. Provincial chapters regularly conduct assemblies to align local governance initiatives with national programs and policy directives from various government agencies.
The Negros Oriental chapter's emphasis on gender responsiveness and disaster resilience reflects contemporary priorities in local government administration, particularly given the province's vulnerability to natural disasters and the national government's push for more inclusive governance frameworks.
This quarterly assembly represents part of the Liga's ongoing efforts to enhance the capacity of barangay officials across Negros Oriental's municipalities, ensuring that grassroots governance remains responsive to community needs while maintaining alignment with provincial and national policy directions.
Photo credit: Liga ng mga Barangay Negros Oriental Chapter