Two barangays from the Negros Island Region (NIR) brought pride and honor to the region after earning second runner-up honors in their respective categories during the 2026 Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA) National Awarding Ceremony Nov. 5, in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Barangay Buenavista of the municipality of Calatrava, Negros Occidental, won in the 1st Class Municipalities Category, while Barangay Manan-ao of the municipality of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor, earned the same distinction in the 5th Class Municipalities category.
Both barangays received a cash prize of P300,000 each, along with a trophy, in recognition of their exemplary performance and unwavering commitment to effective, responsive, and accessible barangay justice administration.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Negros Island Region lauded the two barangays for their remarkable achievements, and commended their dedication and collective effort in promoting the amicable settlement of disputes, strengthening community harmony, and ensuring that justice remains accessible at the grassroots level.
“The achievements of barangays Buenavista and Manan-ao stand as a testament to the dedication of local leaders and community-based justice mechanisms in making peace and justice a shared responsibility,” the DILG-NIR said in a statement.
More than an award, this recognition reflects the enduring commitment of the Negros Island Region to nurturing communities where disputes are resolved amicably, relationships are preserved, and peace begins at the barangay level, it added. “The recognition highlights the invaluable contributions of Lupong Tagapamayapa members and barangay officials in fostering peaceful, orderly, and harmonious communities.”
The LTIA recognizes outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa across the country for their exemplary performance in resolving disputes through mediation, conciliation, and arbitration. Through these alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, the Lupong Tagapamayapa plays a vital role in preventing the escalation of conflicts, helping decongest court dockets, and promoting a culture of peace and understanding within communities.
Gracing the awarding ceremony were DILG Negros Island Region director Lailyn Ortiz, and Mayor Marilyn Era of Calatrava, who joined in celebrating and recognizing the remarkable accomplishments of the award-winning barangays.
Also in attendance were Ildefonso Orquejo, Jr., chief of the Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division; Genevive Jadulos, municipal local government operations officer (MLGOO) of Calatrava; and Maria Theresa Boca, MLGOO of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor.
Their presence underscored DILG-NIR’s strong support for exemplary local governance and its continuing commitment to strengthening grassroots institutions, promoting accessible justice, and building peaceful and resilient communities. ||
