Taytay should have been composed of 50 Barangays by now. With that, Taytayeños have been denied more empowerment and meaningful local autonomy that could have enabled us to attain our fullest development as self-reliant communities.
Having a few Barangays means that only a less number of aspiring officials have the opportunity in the governance and service in the local community level. As such, elective as well as appointive positions are hotly-contested. This renders the playing field vulnerable to political machination by powerful vested interests who find it easier and convenient to gain "influence and control" if the areas of contention to work on are lesser in number, i.e., only a few existing Barangays. Less number of Barangays means less work and worry for "political manipulators".
We are aware of the way politicians engaged, influenced, and intervened in the Barangay polls. Judging by the results—by way of "numbers game"—one can more-or-less predict who the next local officials will be, right?.
The goal of Local Government Code of 1991. As the basic political unit, the Barangay is the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities in the community. It's where the collective views of the people may be expressed, crystallized and considered. Disputes may also be amicably settled. Clearly, Section 384 lays it down as such.
Whereas, Section 386 provides that a Barangay maybe created out of a contiguous territory with a population of at least 2,000—except in cities and municipalities within Metro Manila and other metropolitan political subdivisions or in highly urbanized cities where such territory shall have qualified for having at least 5,000 inhabitants. Yes, the magic numbers for qualification are 2,000 and 5,000. (If assuming only the factor of Taytay population of 319,104 to be divided by 2,000, that allows us to have 159 Barangays in Taytay!)
To apply the above-cited principle would logically result to having more number of Barangays and corresponding Officials to serve the public; thereby, enhancing the delivery of basic services to the citizenry that is envisioned by the Code.
Decentralization and devolution are more democratic. (Sec. 2 and 3 of Ch. 1.) As a matter of policy, Barangays shall enjoy genuine and meaningful local autonomy to enable them to attain their fullest development as self-reliant communities and be more effective partners in the attainment of national goals. They shall be provided with a more responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through a system of decentralization. More powers, authority, functions, responsibilities, and resources shall be moved from the central government to the local government units (LGUs), Barangays included.
The local government units (LGUs) are practically in a far better position to know their constituents’ unique development needs and deliver local services efficiently and regularly than the national government. Meaningful devolution supports the moves to further decentralize the government and empower the LGUs to become effective partners in development. This way will ensure real local autonomy down the local level and insulate LGUs from dirty partisan politics, and manipulation by national government.
In the words of its author, Sen. Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr., "The Code has empowered the local government units all over the country by squarely placing upon them, as frontline institutions, the responsibility for developing their respective territories...Our only hope for the development of the country is to move the powers, responsibilities, and resources from the central to the local level."
That is participative governance. People empowerment in unequivocal terms.
Now, let's see how Taytay fares. Consider the following tabulation for your perusal:
And then, TERESA has 9 Barangays, and MORONG has 8, which are second class municipalities. CARDONA has 18 Barangays, a third class municipality. While BARAS has 10, and JALAJALA has 11, which are both fourth class municipalities. Still, TAYTAY is way behind.
BINANGONAN has the biggest number with 40 Barangays in Rizal Province. Even bigger than ANTIPOLO City with only 16 Barangays.
In the Province of Laguna, MAJAYJAY has 40 Barangays, and LILIW has 33; they are fourth class municipalities. NAGCARLAN has 52, a second class municipality. SAN PEDRO City has 27 Barangays.
MARIVELES, Bataan has 18 Barangays, ROSARIO, Cavite has 20 Barangays, and MARILAO, Bulacan has 16. All are first class municipalities. They are in order as the No.2, No.4, and No.5 richest municipality, (as per COA Report, 2016).
Compare TAYTAY and BINANGONAN, one-on-one. Both are first class municipalities. TAYTAY is placed at a higher income level being the No.3 richest municipality and has bigger internal revenue allotment (IRA) because of its bigger population. Now, why TAYTAY has only 5 Barangays while BINANGONAN a lower in ranking at No.10 richest municipality has 40 Barangays?
No matter how we do arithmetic considering the qualifying factors of income category, population density, and land area as expressed in the Local Government Code, TAYTAY still ends up consigned at the tail-end―kulelat―as to the justifiable number of Barangays in the whole province of Rizal. And probably even in the entire country.
What's the fuss? This isn't just a serious oversight! As for me, it's an age-old political anomaly needing the urgent solution!
So what's the remedy? It's provided for in the Local Government Code, Section 385 (Manner of Creation). It says that "...upon the recommendation of the Municipal Council [of Taytay], a law/ordinance may be passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan [of Rizal], but still requires approval of the majority in a plebiscite to be conducted by Comelec in the affected area of the concerned local government unit (LGU)."
Two years from now―in the next Barangay elections―we wish to realize 50 Barangays in Taytay--no longer 5—raring to be filled in with a fresh breed of well-meaning local public servants delivering basic services to the communities. Partisan politics no more.
Taytayeños, now it's your move!