MikeLigalig.com

Coming home after the Congress bombing that killed a fellow lawmaker, Cong. Edgar Chatto crisscrossed his district and challenged the new barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders whom he swore in during separate mass oath-takings in towns.

He assured them of his full support in their local initiatives, but not without also reminding them of the supreme responsibilities attached to their mandate in preserving peace, promoting social justice and community development.

The First District congressman separately inducted the incoming barangay and SK officials in Corella and Antequera on Friday before swearing in those in Baclayon, Balilihan and Dauis yesterday.

Chatto will officiate today the respective mass oath-takings of the new barangay and SK leaders in Sikatuna and Tubigon.

Himself a serious public servant, Chatto challenged them to serve with diligence, dedication and honesty worthy of the trust manifested by their constituents through the ballots they cast in the synchronized barangay and SK polls.

The barangays, being the smallest unit of government that includes the youth SK sector, can weaken its own structure or be rendered inefficient and ineffective if their leaders disregard right vigilance, Chatto hinted.

He did not spare the SK officials from his challenge, telling them to prove their worth as youth leaders and lead young citizens.

Once the Bohol head of the now-defunct Kabataang Barangay (KB) at age 19. Chatto expressed strong trust in youths with the right motivation and proper guidance.

Whether the present SK should be reformed or abolished for a more dynamic and effective set-up in the tradition of its predecessor KB, Chatto emphasized the need to preserve the core value of developing involvement of the young people in community development and governance.

His hope still springs eternal for the youths to enflame their senses of volunteerism, nationalism, idealism and commitment with or without compensation or honoraria.

Meanwhile, the congressman thanked the outgoing barangay officials who have worked with him hand in hand in delivering priority projects and basic services to the grassroots.

Chatto’s district covers 327 barangays, 312 of them in 14 municipalities and the remaining15 in Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol.

The First District towns are Alburquerque, Antequera, Baclayon, Balilihan, Calape, Catigbian, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Loon, Maribojoc, Panglao, Sikatuna and Tubigon.

There are 203 new and 124 reelected barangay captains in the First District as a result of the barangay election last October 29.

Not less than 40 of them are women, a fact which for Chatto is an indication of greater public recognition of the capacity of the female kind in frontline governance.

Some 100 incumbent barangay captains serve their last term, which disallows them from reelection.

A number of them slid down to councilmen in the recent barangay election while majority have chosen to retire after their last term shall have expired on November 30 this year.

All re-electionist captains won in Balilihan, Catigbian, Corella and Panglao.

Across the district, most reelectionists in fact won.

Being in the forefront of government, the barangay leaders can become effective purveyors of development since by their direct contact with the people they can readily identify the priority needs of the community, Chatto said.

The restless solon always finds more times for barangay concerns even if he also regularly holds “People’s Day” at his residence in the city on Saturdays, attending to the needs of his constituents from all walks of life.

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