THE House of Representatives recently adopted a Senate-approved measure empowering 42,000 barangay chairmen to administer the oath of office to any government official, including the President of the republic.
The lawmakers unanimously voted to adopt the Senate Bill 2693. It will be now transmitted to the Palace for President Aquino’s signature.
Under the bill the following officers also have the authority to administer oaths: vice president; members and secretaries of both Houses of Congress; members of the judiciary; secretaries of departments; provincial governors and lieutenant governors; city mayors; municipal mayors; bureau directors; regional directors; clerks of courts; registrars of deeds, other civilian officers in the government whose appointments are vested in the president and are subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments; all other constitutional officers and notaries public.
Liberal Party Rep. Salvio Fortuno of Camarines Sur said the bill will give elected officials an appropriate choice on who among the public officials would administer one’s oath of office.
“This is in recognition of the very important role of the barangay chairmen in the political structure of government,”Fortuno said.
The measure seeks to amend Section 41 of the Administrative Code of 1987, as amended, by clearly providing that barangay chairmen will now be clothed with the authority to administer the oath of office of public officials.
“While this measure will break the long standing tradition where the president takes his oath before the Chief Justice, it will also give due recognition to the untiring support extended by the punong barangays to the President,” he said.