Performance of the mandatory barangay appointive officials in Middle Quezon Hill

Abstract

On October 10, 1991 former President Corazon C. Aquino signed into law Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. Former President Fidel V. Ramos elucidates that this landmark legislation empowers the barangays by enabling them to enforce laws, maintain public order, ensure delivery of basic services and promote general welfare. The barangay, as seen from the Local Government Code, has its own set of officials that implement authority within the community. Section 387 of the Code presents that a barangay is to be directed by elective officials, namely: a punong barangay, seven (7) sangguniang barangay members, and a sangguniang kabataan chairman, and by mandatory appointive officials, namely: a barangay secretary and a barangay treasurer. These officials, under the captainship of the punong barangay, are expected to provide quality service to the constituents of the barangay. However, reviewed local studies give the implication that the barangay's accomplishments are often attributed to the punong barangay: his competency and proficiency are essential facets in the attainment of both national and local development goals. Frequently, the role played by the mandatory appointive officials is left unnoticed. Their performances are not appraised, and their needs are not noted. It is with this basis that this study has been pursued in order to evaluate the performance of the mandatory appointive officials of Barangay Middle Quezon Hill, the 2006 Most Outstanding Barangay in the City of Baguio. It sought to appraise the level of improved performance of the mandatory appointive barangay officials in Middle Quezon Hill. Specifically, the study sought answers to the following problems: 1. What is the performance level of the barangay secretary along the following areas: a. Custody of barangay records b. Preparation of forms or reports c. Submission of reports d. Auxiliary functions Hypothesis: There is an outstanding level of performance of the barangay secretary along the following areas: a. Custody of barangay records b. Preparation of forms or reports c. Submission of reports d. Auxiliary functions 2. What is the performance level of the barangay treasurer along the following areas; a. Custody of barangay funds and properties b. Preparation of financial reports c. Collection and issuance or receipts d. Disbursement of funds e. Certification of availability of funds f. Submission of reports g. Attendance in rural postal circuit Hypothesis: There is an outstanding level of performance of the barangay treasurer along the following areas: a. Custody of barangay funds and properties b. Preparation of financial reports c. Collection and issuance or receipts d. Disbursement of funds e. Certification of availability of funds f. Submission of reports g. Attendance in rural postal circuit 3. To what extent is the contribution of the mandatory appointive barangay officials to the outstanding performance of Barangay Middle Quezon Hill? Hypothesis: There is an improved level of performance from Satisfactory to Outstanding in the following: a. delivery and submission of quality barangay reports or forms and financial statements to the appropriate offices and to the clients; b. punctual delivery and submission of barangay reports or forms and financial statements to the appropriate offices and to the clients; c. display of improved personality The study employed the descriptive method of investigation. Data of these research problems were obtained using questionnaires, interview, and documentary analysis. The data gathered were tallied, categorized, and subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. The statistical tools used were percentage, weighted mean, t-test, and F test through the One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Based on the research problems, the following were the findings: 1. A. As per evaluation of the barangay officials, the following were arrived at: a. The barangay secretary has an outstanding performance in all her tasks regarding custody of records. b. The barangay secretary had an outstanding performance with regard to preparation of forms and reports. c. An average rating of very satisfactory was given to the barangay secretary in terms of submission of reports. d. The barangay secretary has been outstandingly performing her duties considered as auxiliary functions. B. As per evaluation of the barangay residents, the following are the findings: a. The resident respondents claimed that they were very satisfied with how well the barangay secretary personally dealt with them. b. There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of the respondents on the personality of the barangay secretary when they are grouped according to gender. This clearly revealed that the male and female residents of Barangay Middle Quezon Hill have the same perception on the personality of the barangay secretary. c. There are significant differences among the mean ratings of the respondents when they are grouped according to age. The older the respondents the higher are the ratings they gave. d. The secretary of Barangay Middle Quezon Hill has a very satisfactory performance of her duties. e. There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of the respondents on the performance of duties of the barangay secretary when they were grouped according to gender. f. There are significant differences among the mean ratings of the respondents when they were grouped according to age. 2. A. The barangay officials' evaluations are as follows: a. The barangay treasurer has been outstandingly performing her duties regarding custody of barangay funds and properties. b. The barangay treasurer has been performing her duties regarding preparation of financial reports very satisfactorily, on the average. c. The barangay treasurer is believed to be performing outstandingly her duties regarding collection and issuance of receipts as evaluated by the barangay officials. d. The barangay treasurer has been performing her duties regarding submission of reports outstandingly. e. The barangay treasurer has been doing other related functions very satisfactorily. B. The barangay residents' evaluations are as follows: a. The barangay treasurer has a very satisfactory display of good personality. b. There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of the respondents when they were grouped according to gender. c. There are significant differences in the mean ratings of the respondents when they were grouped according to age. d. The barangay treasurer does a very satisfactory performance of her duties as evaluated by the resident respondents. e. Regardless of gender, the residents of Barangay Middle Quezon Hill be that the barangay treasurer has been performing her duties very satisfactorily. f. There are significant differences in the mean ratings of the respondents when they were grouped according to age. 3. As to the level of improvement within the last five years, the following are the findings: a. There is a very satisfactory level of improvement of the performance of the functions of the barangay secretary according to the barangay officials. Considering the four different functions, there is an outstanding improvement of the performance in two of them; such functions are custody of records and auxiliary functions. There is a very satisfactory improvement in the other two functions namely submission of reports and preparation of forms and reports. b. The barangay treasurer had a very satisfactory improvement regarding her performance of her functions. Considering her specific functions, she was believed by the barangay officials to have improved outstandingly in the preparation of financial reports and in the collection and issuance of receipts. She has a very satisfactory improvement regarding the following functions: attendance in rural postal circuit, certification of availability of funds, custody of barangay funds and properties, submission of written reports, and disbursement of funds. c. Considering the personality and performance of duties of the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer, the mean ratings suggest a very satisfactory improvement on the personality and performance of duties of both the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer as evaluated by the residents. In the light of the findings of the study, the following are the conclusions: 1. With the exception of submission of reports where she is rated very satisfactory, the barangay secretary outstandingly performs all her duties stated in the Local Government Code as perceived by the barangay officials of Middle Quezon Hill. On the other hand, the barangay residents perceived that there is still room for improvement since they rated the barangay secretary's performance as very satisfactory. 2. The barangay of perceived that the barangay treasurer needs to further her knowledge and skills on the preparation of financial reports, disbursement of funds, certification of availability of fund:;, and attendance in rural postal circuit since she is rated very satisfactory in these areas. On the other hand, they perceived that she excels in the collection and issuance of receipts and submission of reports since she is performing outstandingly in these areas. The barangay residents perceived that the barangay treasurer can still further her knowledge and skills in the discharge of her functions and in dealing with the clients since she is evaluated very satisfactory in these areas. 3. The barangay residents perceived that within the last five years, both the barangay secretary and the barangay treasurer improved very satisfactorily in the performance of their official and auxiliary functions. This improvement contributed significantly to the outstanding performance of the barangay. The mandatory appointive officials aided the punong barangay and the barangay council in the preparation of reports and documents that were used as bases of evaluation when the barangay participated for the search for the best performing barangays in 2006. In relation with the findings and conclusions of this research, the following are the recommendations: 1. The barangay secretary and the barangay treasurer of Middle Quezon Hill must further their knowledge in terms of documentation and records filing or storing. 2. Barangay captains must always accord support and encouragement to their mandatory appointed officials. 3. The Barangay Affairs Office and the Association of Barangay Secretaries and Association of Barangay Treasurers must push through with their plan of looking for agencies or non government organizations that will sponsor the search for the best performing barangay secretary and barangay treasurer. 4. The Association of Barangay Secretaries and the Association of Barangay Treasurers must double their efforts in sponsoring seminars or trainings for the mandatory appointive barangay officials for the improvement of their knowledge and skills. 5. A study on the factors that motivate barangay secretaries and barangay treasurers to work maybe conducted. 6. A study on the performance of barangay secretaries and barangay treasurers of Baguio City may also be conducted.