“… kunak ket idonate ko ti umuna nga sweldok tapno matrain ti barangay officials” – Luna Mayor Garde on difficulties of barangays in budget preparation and revision

Luna, Apayao – “ Nagsarita kami kenni MLGOO, ket kunana awan budget ti training, isunga kunak ket idonate ko ti umuna nga sweldok tapno matrain ti barangay officials to prepare and submit the annual budget on time... para uniform at walang delay,” says Mayor Januario S. Garde as he spoke before members of the Liga ng mga Barangay.

Garde explained that most of the problems of delayed development come from delayed approval of the annual budget, which stems from the fact that many barangay officials face difficulty in preparing and submitting documentary requirements.

“Nu adda ti training… saan sayang ti oras nga agsubli-subli ti documents yo.. into nukwa agrevise kayun to manen, inggana abuten na ti makatawen diay isubsubmit tayo a budget,” related Garde, adding that if the barangay annual budget is passed and approved on time, problems will greatly be reduced.

Garde likewise recounted that when he was yet a district engineer, he would observe Barangay Captain Amelia Garde with other barangay captains discussing situations and problems like late submission or multiple revisions of barangay annual budget. "There I saw the bigger picture, Kasanu nga mandaram ni apo kapitan, treasurer, wennu secretary nu kurang met ti knowledge and skills tapno iti kasta maka-aramid da wennu makaisagana iti napintas nga annual budget?.”

The Mayor said they should not put the blame on the barangay leaders, but rather capacitate them to fix the main cause of the problem. If there is a training, the officials, Garde said, will have a workshop where everyone will prepare their budget using a uniform format and following a uniform set of guidelines.

The barangay officials present responded with happy smiles and said they will surely attend as they welcomed the donation of the mayor for their training.