Celebrating and promoting the success of community-based mediation

Community governance arrangements have a long history in the Philippines that date back even before the Spanish colonial period.

Recognizing the rich heritage of grassroots mechanisms to steer communities towards collective goals, these arrangements have been retained over the years, specifically through the establishment and empowerment of barangay or community-level governments.

One area that barangays have effectively worked on and could continue to contribute to is dispute or conflict resolution. Through the Dispute-Mediator Council known as the Lupong Tagapamayapa, the barangay government is able to maintain peace and solidarity among the members by facilitating settlements among conflicting parties. In recognition of the importance of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led the conferment of awards on the most outstanding barangay dispute-mediator councils recently in Malacañang.

For the Most Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa in Highly Urbanized Cities, the National and Hall of Fame Awardee was Barangay Barretto of Olongapo City. For the Most Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa in Component Cities, the National and Hall of Fame Awardee was Barangay Washington of Surigao City. For the Most Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa in 1st to 3rd Class Municipalities, the National and Hall of Fame Awardee was Barangay Lamao of Limay, Bataan. And for the Most Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa in 4th and 6th Class Municipalities, the National and Hall of Fame Awardee was Barangay Hingatungan of Silago of Southern Leyte.

The Lupong Tagapamayapa, now on its 17th year, has served as a mechanism in bringing into the consciousness of Philippine society the effectiveness of grassroots-level arrangements to bring forth harmony in communities. May the successes of the awardees serve as a motivator for other barangays to perform the dispute resolution function in an equally exemplary fashion.