DDO launches Palengke Bound to Barangays (PBB)

Davao de Oro---If Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has its Mobile Palengke, Davao de Oro (DDO) also launches a Palengke Bound to Barangay (PBB) in the entire province during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) due to the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Through the initiatives of the provincial government of DDO headed by Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy in cooperation with the eleven (11) municipal local government units and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as well as the private sectors of the province to bring the marketplace available in all barangays of DDO.

The PBB was being piloted in Maco, in partnership with Barangay Poblacion and the Poblacion Market Vendors Association. It was immediately followed and replicated in five (5) towns of DDO namely the municipalty of Mawab, Maco, Pantukan, Compostela and Laak.

Aside from the PBB the Pharmacy Bound for Barangays in the municipality of Laak was also launched through its mobile palengke so that they can sale medicines in the far-flung barangays.

"Nahitabo kini tungod sa pagtinabangay ug kolektibo nga paningkamot sa tanan. Gusto pud namo pasalamatan ang DTI para sa mga PPE ug tarpaulin, sa mga MLGU sa ilang wala'y pagduha-duha nga kooperasyon ug sa pagpangita og mga sakyanan aron magamit nga mobile palengke," said Governor Uy.

The provincial government also pomised that they will provide 15-liters of fuel every PBB per day just to ensure that they can always went to the barangays loaded with their products.

On the other hand, with most of the local shops closed, DDO also established a Facebook-based marketplace dubbed as ‘Online Palengke’, where business enterprises can continue their services, and where the residents can buy their daily needs.

During the project launching at the Serbisyo Oro Mismo Neteleradyo program, Governor Uy stressed that this innovation can stir up the local economy even if the province is under the ECQ.

He also encouraged the residents to join the Online Palengke group in their municipality via Facebook group.

Gov Uy disclosed that all the municipalities in the province have their own Online Palengke, managed by the respective LGUs.

Aside from the PBB and online palengke the provincial government will also conduct a mobile kitchen feeding program that will be launch on April 24, 2020 at the muncipality of Monkayo, Davao de Oro. ( Rey Antibo, ID Davao de Oro)

Photocaption PBB---Photo taken at Barangay Melale, Laak, Davao de Oro for the Palengke Bound to Barangay and Pharmacy Bound to Barangay on April 22, 2020.

Philippine Barangay Power

It is really good that every three years between local government elections, every Filipino will have the power to choose who will govern the neighborhood in which he or she lives.

As one could learn from several books, barangays are in the Philippines since pre-Hispanic days. When the Americans took over in the Philippines, the barangay was renamed BARRIO and the leader became the barrio captain or tiniente del barrio. Under the Marcos regime the barangay was once again revived, and the name of its head replaced as barangay captain. 

Why do I talk about barangay power? Of course, the Local Government Code of 1991 has given back the barangays more power and structure, as well as reponsibilites. Fact is also, that there have been several attempts to modify and even abolish this indeed most basic of the Philippines' political units.

The barangay is keeping the community working and is responsible for local matters such as peace and order and constitutes a powerful link for any city, provincial and national politician. Barangays are still taken a load off the regular courts since conflicts are encouraged to be resolved at the barangay level. 

I also strongly agree with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) which wants the barangays as the first line of defense against global climate change. Costal barangays, in example, should be given more priority since they are the most vulnerable to rising sea levels rise. 

(Barangay Captain from Buhangin, Davao City, James "Jimmy" Salvador, during an interview after his re-election)