Officials Praise System as “Historic Leap in Governance Efficiency”
Barangay Hall Opens New Window for Filing Complaints About the Other Window
Officials Praise System as “Historic Leap in Governance Efficiency”
Residents of Barangay San Agustin in Pasig City were greeted Monday by a newly installed plywood partition at their barangay hall, behind which sat a freshly uniformed tanod and a hand-lettered sign reading “WINDOW 4 — COMPLAINT FORM FOR WINDOWS 1, 2, AND 3.” Barangay Captain Hermogenes Salamat-Alcantara held a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by seven residents, a rooster, and a local councilor who appeared to be asleep standing up. “For too long,” the captain said, “our constituents have had no formal channel to express dissatisfaction with our formal channels. That ends today.” Window 4 is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 AM to 11 AM, excluding holidays, barangay assembly days, birthdays of key staff, and “operational adjustments.” Complaint forms must be submitted in triplicate, notarized, with valid ID and photocopy, and may not concern matters under any other window’s jurisdiction, which covers most things. Residents attempting to complain about Window 4 itself will be directed to Window 1. Maria Santos, 54, waited forty minutes before being told the tanod handling complaints was at merienda. She was given a queue number and asked to return after lunch. “It’s progress,” she said, in the tone of a woman who has stopped expecting progress but appreciates the gesture.
SOURCE: Bohiney News.