The Department of the Interior and Local Government – National Capital Region (DILG-NCR) successfully conducted a feedback session and benchmarking of best practices at Barangay San Bartolome, Quezon City last July 18, 2023.

Having won the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA) honors for its exceptional overall performance with a rating of 98.00, Barangay San Bartolome generously shared with other candidate barangays and runner-ups its successful initiatives that allowed them to win the LTIA.

DILG-NCR Assistant Regional Director Atty. Ana Lyn Baltazar-Cortez, CESO V commenced the 2023 LTIA feedback session and benchmarking activity by extending her appreciation to Lupon members, DILG field officers, and representatives from various NCR barangays.

“We are thrilled to have officials from Barangay San Bartolome join us this year, having earned the top place in the LTIA Regional Assessment. Their success is a testament to the innovative and effective practices they have implemented, which have elevated barangay-level justice to new heights,” said Atty. Baltazar-Cortez.

During the session, Atty. Baltazar-Cortez emphasized the significance of strengthening the Katarungang Pambarangay (KP) conflict resolution system, which delivers justice at the grassroots level and provides a practical and viable alternative to adjudication through the regular courts.

City Director Emmanuel D. Borromeo, CESO V of the DILG Quezon City Field Office gave an overview of activities and presented a progress report on the KP system. He lauded Barangay San Bartolome’s dedication to mediation and reconciliation as a means of conflict resolution and cited the skills of their well-trained team to resolves disputes.

The feedback activity was also graced by prosecutors from the Department of Justice, namely, Prosecutor Marmari P. Satin-Vivas and Prosecutor Gilmarie Fe S. Pacamarra, as well as Hon. Rowena Nieves A. Tan of the Regional Trial Court. Also present were members of the Regional Awards Committee (RAC) in the persons of Liga ng mga Barangay President Hon. Ziffred A. Ancheta, MPA and NCRPO Representative Police Captain Corina Reyes.

The RAC provided invaluable insights and feedback to the participants, addressing the concerns of Barangay Representatives and DILG Field Officers, especially concerning specific indicators contained in Memorandum Circular No. 2023-022: Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards Enhanced Criteria and Guidelines.

In closing, DILG-NCR reaffirmed its commitment to supporting candidate barangays to achieve success under the LTIA system. By conducting regular feedback sessions and benchmarking exercises such as the one just concluded, the Department aims to improve dispute resolution, enhance peace, and strengthen community ties at the local level.