Barangay Assembly as a Mechanism in the Promotion of Good Governance Among Barangays as Perceived by Selected Barangay Officials and Residents of Lucena City

This study sought to determine the significance and effectiveness of the barangay assembly as a mechanism of the government in promoting good governance among barangays as perceived by selected barangay officials and residents of Lucena City. It aimed to determine the demographic profile of the respondents, measuring the respondents’ level of awareness on the nature and purpose of the barangay assembly, the barangays’ level of compliance to Sec. 397 of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 and DILG Memorandum No. 2015-116 and the respondents’ perception on the barangay assembly as a mechanism in promoting good governance among barangays in terms of participation, transparency, accountability and predictability. This study is a descriptive type of research that utilized quantitative and qualitative approaches. Results and findings reveal that the respondents and majority of the subjects are very much aware of the nature and purpose of Barangay Assembly. Also, barangays have a very high level of compliance on the criteria set by law and of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Officials are compliant with it since it is strictly mandated by law to avoid the corresponding administrative charges that may be filed against them if they failed to do so. It was also concluded that both groups of respondents as well as the interviewed subjects strongly agree that the barangay assembly is an effective mechanism of the government in promoting good governance in terms of participation, accountability, transparency and predictability. Finally, there is a significant difference on the responses between barangay officials and residents regarding the barangay assembly as a mechanism in promoting good governance though both groups of respondents strongly agree with the statements specified in each element of good governance. It goes to show that being participative in nature, the barangay assembly truly serves as a perfect setting to gather citizens and government officials to address problems in the community and its conduct nationwide is one way wherein they can assert their right to be heard and speak out on matters affecting public interest, thus empowering them as a vital part of the community. Since it revealed that the barangay assembly empowers all citizens in the barangay, it is highly recommended that the Sangguniang Barangay shall undertake the appropriate activities in order to create public awareness such as the use of mass media for information dissemination purposes and introducing interesting strategies to generate the maximum participation of their constituents and people shall keep their eyes open by staying alert and vigilant in securing and sustaining the conduct of barangay assembly in their respective communities and shall cooperate hand-in-hand with their barangay officials in order to fulfill the role of the barangay government as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, projects and activities in the community.