Two Bohol 'lupons,' picked as 

Region 7 entries to nat'l finals 

TAGBILARAN CITY, May 8 (PIA)--Two Bohol barangay adjudication councils, or those organized to perform extra-judicial trials of minor cases to lessen the cases for prosecution in the courts, have advanced to the national finals having been declared Regional Winners for the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards 2018. 

Lupong Tagapamayapa (LT) of Can-opao Jagna wins the regional search for first to third class municipalities while LT Nahawan Clarin topped among the towns classified under 4th to sixth class and earned the honor to represent Central Visayas to the national finals, according to a Memorandum issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). 

In an unnumbered Memorandum to City and Provincial Directors, DILG 7 Regional Director Atty Rene Bordeos, CESO III named the winners which the Regional Awards Committee picked during the assessment for the calendar year. 

Also included in the regional winners are Barangay Pajo of Lapu-lapu City in Cebu for Highly Urbanized City as well as Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City in Cebu for Component Cities Category. 

This year, under Lupong Tagapamayapa Chairman Arsenio Degamo, Nahawan improved its standing following last year's first runner up position after Barangay Bingag of Dauis won the 4th to sixth class in 2017, after winning in the provincial and regional finals. 

Last 2016, Nahawan also won as 2nd runner up for 4th to 6th class Lupons in the Provincial Category, according to Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Jose Jekeri P. Taningco. 

Taningco said an innovation in Nahawan is that they organized a Purok Justice System, in line with the Provincial Government's agenda for purok empowerment. 

He said just as a complaint is filed at the Lupon Secretary, the Chairman is immediately notified. 

Upon notification, the Chairman sets up a committee to initially gather facts and pre-investigate parties, seek witnesses and their accounts as well as talk to parties. At the same time, the chairman also does his own investigation. 

The Purok Justice System apparently helps provide more accurate details of the case, Taningco aired his observation. 

When the Lupong Tagapamayapa convenes, details would then be laid out so that a better strategy can be effected during mediation, the MLGOO added. 

Upon the mediation proper, a formal program ensues which include invocation which is a prayer for peace and reconciliation, the hymns to set the proper mood of the parties and instill a sense of patriotism and justice. 

As an observer, Taningco said the Chairman always makes both parties understand that the lupon is there to help resolve conflicts, urging each party to start off by shaking hands. 

Shaking hands is an important introductory ritual in all manners of social contacts, Taningco explained, as he added that such an attempt of early mood setting always reveals the kind of issue they will be resolving. 

Almost always, Nahawan Clarin LT is able to resolve most of these cases, using their methods and this has largely helped de-clog the municipal circuit courts, he summed. 

On the Other hand, Can-opao would be gunning for a third peat by attempting to make it in next year's LTIA Regional Finals to be declare a Hall of Famer. 

Records showed that under Jagna MLGOO Judy Grace Dominguez, Can-opao LT led by Chairman Jocelyn Pagtanac has reached two national finals. 

Another peat would be a national honor for the barangay pacification team, said MLGOO Dominguez. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Can-opao Jagna LTIA with Mayor Fortunato Abrenilla receives a trophy and cash prize while Bohol officails also handed projects to winners. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)