THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed all the newly-elected barangay officials in Bacolod City to attend the mass oath-taking ceremony at the SMX Convention Center on June 16.
In her memorandum dated June 6, DILG-Bacolod director Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag stated that the activity will start at 2 p.m. and attendance is a must.
Madayag said each barangay official is allowed to bring one guest only, and dress code shall be strictly observed.
She said for males, they should wear polo Barong and formal pants, and for females, it should be ladies Barong and skirt or formal pants.
The activity is sponsored by the City Government headed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Last week, a total of 162 village officials in Bacolod took their oath of office before their colleague at Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center.
The mass oath-taking was organized by Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano.
Leonardia said they only sponsored the event and they expect more than 1,000 guests.
He said this mass oath-taking is for all the newly-elected barangay officials and it's up for the 162 barangay officials, who had taken their oath of office last week if they will attend or not.
"It's an activity of the DILG so it's between them and the DILG, we only sponsored the event," he added.
The mayor said that Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino will be the inducting officer and guest of honor at the mass oath-taking.
Leonardia said the mass oath-taking of the barangay officials is a solemn and very significant occasion in local governance.
"That is why we are very pleased that no less than Malacañang Presidential Adviser on political affairs has accepted our invitation to be the inducting officer and guest speaker. His vast experience as mayor of Tagaytay City, national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, and chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, that makes him a perfect choice as a guest of honor for our barangay officials," he said.
Leonardia added that he is friends with Tolentino, whom he had known since 1995 when they were both mayors.
