Barangay Officials’ Performance and Leadership | IJB 2025

S. Maria Blanca, Department of the Jose Rizal Memorial State University, Main Campus, Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. Wrote a research article about, Barangay Officials’ Performance and Leadership. Entitled, Performance of barangay officials in Zamboanga Del Norte: Basis for generating a training manual on leadership enhancement. This research paper published by the InternationalJournal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The study described the level of performance of the Barangay officials bordering the province of Zamboanga de Norte. Selected Barangays were rated by the officials and residents as to Governance, Barangay Fiscal Administration, Development Planning, Barangay Legislation, Barangay Basic Services and Facilities and Compliance to Directives using standard questionnaires by the Department of Interior and local Government Unit (DILG). The findings revealed that Governance, Barangay Fiscal administration, Development Planning, Barangay Legislation, Barangay Basic Services and Facilities and Compliance to Directives were satisfactorily performed. This necessitate at the barangay officials should look into the six areas for Barangay development and initiate programs in order to augment the livelihood source, income, economy and the constituents quality of life. Importantly Barangay officials should encourage the community people to develop entrepreneurial endeavors as a way of augmenting Barangay income and economy.

 Introduction

The Philippines is currently facing a crisis characterized by stark inequalities in opportunities across nearly all aspects of life. This disparity has reached alarming levels, leaving many citizens struggling to cope. In response, people naturally turn to the government for support—not only to survive these trying times but also to thrive in an increasingly competitive world.

However, the government has fallen short in addressing the challenges, particularly those faced by the country's most marginalized groups. Instead of delivering comprehensive solutions, it has called on everyone to work together and persevere, with the hope that these collective efforts will eventually lead to an improved quality of life for all citizens.

Fajardo et al. (2001) emphasized that the government, faced with the overwhelming challenge of a growing population, struggles with its capacity to mobilize and direct both human and material resources toward achieving social and economic development. Lingayah et al. (1999) evaluated various performance measures of Local Government Units (LGUs), particularly at the barangay level, including training, workshops, planning, and the use of community-based indicators.

Lingayah concluded that for programs and projects to be effectively implemented, the "three legs of the stool" must be firmly in place: (1) clear governance objectives—whether aiming for efficiency, effectiveness, or accountability; (2) a thorough understanding of barangay circumstances, including available resources; and (3) a proper evaluation of the appropriateness of the programs being implemented.

Rohrbaugh (2004) highlighted that a key aspect of organizational performance lies in identifying the factors that contribute to organizational effectiveness. He underscored the significance of implementing a "high-performance" management system as a cornerstone for achieving this goal. Research on highperformance management systems has evolved through various competing approaches to understanding and enhancing organizational effectiveness, offering valuable insights into optimizing performance and achieving sustained success Carreon (2003), in his study titled "Resource Management in Relation to Employee Performance in the Local Government Units of the First Congressional District of Zamboanga del Sur," revealed that the performance of local government units in the district was rated as very satisfactory. Notably, the performance levels were consistent across the board, particularly in areas where effective resource management was evident. This highlights the critical role of resource management in driving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of local government operations.

To address the need for more effective governance, Republic Act 7160, commonly known as the Local Government Code, introduced the principles of decentralization and autonomy. Enacted to empower local governments, it aimed to make them more responsive and accountable to the people (Bederio et al., 2004). Decentralization fosters shared responsibility, enhancing the public's access to decision-making and policy-making processes. According to Nolledo (1998), this framework encourages citizens to move away from passivity, fostering self-reliance while promoting maximum freedom, peace, order, and an overall improved quality of life.

In this context, the evolving and unpredictable dynamics of the barangay political arena require leaders who are both innovative and capable of adopting new strategies to address the complex challenges faced by their communities. These leaders must ultimately strive to enhance the quality of life for their constituents.

To this end, the present study was conducted to evaluate the performance levels of Local Government Units (LGUs) in the localities bordering the province of Zamboanga del Norte. The assessment focused on key areas of local governance, including Barangay Governance, Fiscal Administration, Development Planning, Barangay Legislation, Barangay Basic Services and Facilities, and Compliance with Directives.

The findings of this study aim to serve as a foundation for strengthening barangay functions and responsibilities, ensuring that local governance becomes more effective in responding to the needs of the community and fostering sustainable development.

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Article source : Performance of barangay officials in Zamboanga Del Norte: Basis for generating a training manual on leadership enhancement