By Dominic B. dela Cruz
PASAY CITY—At least 572 barangay officials from Ilocos Norte participated in the recently concluded 2025 Liga Ng Mga Barangay (LNB) National Congress (Cluster III) with the theme “Barangay para sa Kalikasan, Matatag na Kinabukasan”, held at World Trade Center in Pasay City from August 18-20, 2025.
The three-day national congress focused on addressing critical environmental issues at the barangay level. particularly in the areas of waste management, water access and quality, and energy use.
Relative to this, LNB National President Maria Katrina Jessica G. Dy, in her introductory statement, shared some tips on waste management, particularly on biodegradable, non-biodegradable, residual and hazardous wastes and likewise with the water and the energy conservation tips.
Dy also formally announced the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE), which was earlier signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. effectively postponing it from December of 2025 to the first Monday of November 2026. All the 4,800 barangay officials-participants from the different parts of the country applauded the announcement.
In behalf of the Liga ng mga Barangay Sa Pilipinas, Dy thanked the President for the trust he gave in signing the BSKE postponement likewise with the House of Representatives headed by Speaker Martin Romualdez and the Senate, especially to Senator Imee Marcos, who initiated the move.
However, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act (RA) 12232, the law that postpones the BSKE which was originally set on December 1, 2025.
However, Dy said that the Liga will likewise file at the SC at the soonest time a reply to the petition filed by Macalintal.
Senator Imee Marcos, in her message, congratulated the Liga after the President has signed the law postponing the BSKE election.
Marcos likewise expressed her thanks to the “unending support” the Liga extended during the last election, which resulted in her reelection as a senator.
Other speakers for the said congress included environmental management specialist II Jepp Faralles of the NSWMC Secretariat and Technical Services Section, Solid Waste Management Division of the DENR, who discussed the status of waste, water and energy in the country; CORA founder and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Antoinette Taus, who discussed the measures to prevent waste; and Co-founder and NXTLVL CEO Miguel Francisco Caparas head of Business Development WEnergy Global discussed the measures to prevent energy; and acting area manager of Makati Central Business District Sally Banal discussed the importance of PAGIBIG.
Other guest speakers who attended were: former DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos and DILG Assistant Secretary for Community Participation Elizabeth Lopez De Leon.
Highlighting the national congress was the awarding of the Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangays (SGLGB), which recognizes and incentivizes local government units for their exemplary performance in various aspects of governance. It signifies commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance practices.
Relative to this, record showed that the Province of Ilocos Norte had the most number of awardees with a total of 75 barangay officials.
LNB Ilocos Norte Chapter President Ryan John Pascua thanked all the 572 participants who joined this year’s National Congress and congratulated all the awardees.
