The town’s 77 Barangay Secretaries and Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs) attended the ‘Orientation/Training on the Establishment of Barangay Migration Information Center’ organized by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office headed by Lerma Padagas on September 20 at the Balon Bayambang Events Center.

As the title indicates, the event aims to orient and train the attendees on the establishment of a Migration Information Center (MIC) in every barangay.

As the day’s trainors/speakers, Marivel Joven and Doris Zafra from the Population Commission’s Regional Office 1 explained the MIC’s objectives: a) establish a baseline data with proper and complete information on migrants, b) provide a mechanism in monitoring population movement, c) provide a basis for a more responsive local planning and thus more effective basic services, and d) augment barangay income through issuance of required barangay clearance.

The speakers emphasized that Barangay Secretaries and BSPOs may have the lowest rank in the hierarchy of barangay officials, but their role is no less important.

Councilor Amory Junio welcomed the participants, while Municipal Chief of Staff and Legal Officer Atty. Raymundo B. Bautista Jr. spoke on behalf of Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao. “Importante ang pagmonitor sa lokal na populasyon dahil dito makikita kung anu-anong mga serbisyo ang nararapat na iparating sa inyong nasasakupan. Ang population at migration data ay importante rin sa local development planning, kaya’t sana ay pahalagahan ninyo ang mga bagong kaalamang inyong natutunan,” Atty. Bautista said.

According to Population Program Worker Alta Grace Evangelista, who supervises the BSPOs, this is the first time in her three years as BSPO supervisor that the BSPOs had complete attendance.

The BSPOs would like to thank Mayor Quiambao for approving their request for a uniform, Evangelista added.