TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of the Interior and Local Government(DILG) in Eastern Visayas convened its First Quarter ‘kumustahan’ on February 20, 2026, gathering provincial and city focal officers to review progress, address challenges, and align strategies for the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA) program.
Held virtually via zoom, the meeting provided a platform for field implementers across the region to share updates on dispute resolution mechanisms at the barangay level, exchange best practices, and discuss operational challenges affecting program delivery. The LTIA program recognizes barangays that excel in promoting peace and resolving conflicts through the Lupong Tagapamayapa system.
Jhonel Añavesa, chief of DILG-8’s Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division and representing Regional Director Arnel Agabe, emphasized the importance of consistent program implementation, reorienting officers on updated evaluation criteria, and maintaining the region’s commitment to producing model barangays and national awardees.
“Continuous feedback from our field implementers is crucial. It ensures that national directives remain relevant and responsive to the realities in our communities,” he said.
During the session, provincial and city focal officers presented progress reports, highlighting gains in barangay-level dispute resolution while identifying areas where additional support and capacity-building are needed. Open discussions also encouraged practical solutions to common challenges, reinforcing the adaptability of local offices in sustaining community-based peace initiatives.
The Kumustahan underscores DILG-8’s proactive approach in promoting grassroots justice systems, equipping focal officers with the tools and coordination necessary to advance conflict resolution programs across Eastern Visayas.
Officials stressed that collaboration among local governments is key to strengthening peace, justice, and responsive governance in barangays throughout the region.
Through sustained coordination and capacity-building, DILG-8 aims to ensure that the 2026 LTIA cycle will not only recognize excellence but also further institutionalize community-based conflict resolution as a cornerstone of local governance.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
