Law Summary
Initial Declaration of Barangay Assembly Days
- Proclamation No. 342 (2003) declared the last Saturday of March and the third Saturday of October every year as Barangay Assembly Days.
- This declaration aimed to emphasize the barangay's role in local governance.
Amendment to Schedule Due to Election Campaign Period
- Proclamation No. 260 (2011) amended the schedule to avoid conflict with election campaign periods for Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
- The new schedule set Barangay Assembly Days on the last Saturday of March and the second Sunday of October yearly.
Practical Issues Affecting Assembly Scheduling
- Reports by the National Barangay Operations Office noted some barangays held assemblies on dates different from those prescribed, for compelling reasons.
- Barangay assemblies in the first semester of 2013 and 2016 coincided with Black Saturday, reducing attendance.
- The scheduled Barangay Assembly Day on March 31, 2018, also fell on Black Saturday, a non-working day nationwide.
Need for Flexible Scheduling
- The coincidence with religious observances impacted participation in barangay assemblies.
- Flexibility in scheduling was necessary to increase attendance and engagement.
- Wider participation promotes greater transparency and accountability of barangay officials.
Current Declaration Finally Amending Barangay Assembly Days
- The President declared all Saturdays and Sundays in March and October each year as Barangay Assembly Days.
- Barangays are enjoined to hold their assemblies on any of these weekend days each semester.
- This aims to maximize constituent participation in compliance with Section 397 of RA No. 7160.
Authority and Implementation
- The proclamation was issued by the President of the Philippines under constitutional authority.
- The executive secretary endorsed the proclamation, formalizing its effect.
- This legal framework guides barangays nationwide in scheduling their semestral assemblies for effective local governance.