Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan (left),  DILG Chairman Brian Raymund Yamsuan (Facebook)

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan has praised Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. for his policy of encouraging the recruitment of women to serve as barangay public safety officers or "tanods". 

“We commend Secretary Abalos for encouraging local executives to recruit women as barangay tanods to promote gender equality, and women empowerment and participation. Women are as capable as men in keeping  peace and order in our communities,” Yamsuan said on Tuesday, July 9. 

He said Abalos' move ensure that “the barangays as frontliners in ensuring peace and safety in our communities would be effective and responsive in handling cases involving women and children.”  

“Complaints in which women and children are the victims, such as those involving abuse and violence, are better handled by female barangay public safety officers or ‘tanods'," noted Yamsuan, a former DILG assistant secretary.  

The rookie congressman said hiring female tanods would allow barangays to better serve their communities as women can offer different perspectives and approaches in handling complaints and in enforcing ordinances.  

The lawmaker also pointed out that besides maintaining peace and order, tanods are also tasked to help during disasters and other emergencies, where female tanods can be valuable assets by providing emotional support to distressed women and children, on top of performing search, rescue and relief operations as well as their male counterparts.  

In DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) 2024-086 issued last month, Abalos said that “to promote gender equality, women empowerment and participation, it is highly encouraged to recruit women to serve as barangay tanod.”  

“Moreover, recruitment should not be discriminatory as to the gender and sexuality of the volunteer,” the MC likewise stated.  

The MC outlines the DILG’s omnibus policy on the administration and strengthening capacities of barangay tanods as agents of peace and development.  

It is addressed to all provincial governors, mayors, punong barangays, sanggunians, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), DILG  regional/provincial/city directors, and city and municipal local government operations officers, as well as to the Minister of  Local Government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).  

Under the MC, a barangay tanod must be a Filipino citizen; a resident for at least six months of the barangay where he or she is appointed; a registered voter; at least 18 but not more than 60 years old; can read and write; of good moral character; and physically and mentally fit.  

For complaints involving women, the MC states that female tanods are preferred to handle such cases.  

Under the MC, female tanods are tasked to respond to gender-based violence cases brought to the barangay,  inform victims of their rights, and assist them  in securing possible remedies.  

In emergency cases, female tanods should help  secure the victim in a safe place and immediately contact the local social welfare and development officer assigned to their barangay.