LEGAL BASES

• Executive Order No. 130, entitled Establishment of the Gabay sa Mamamayan Aksyon Centers (GMACs) in the Barangays was issued on September 30, 2002.
• Local Government Code, Book I, title 1, Chapter 2, Section 17 (b) (7) states that Such basic services and facilities (in the barangay) include,… Information and Reading Center:

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of establishing GMACs in the Barangays is to ensure that the grassroots or the people therein shall have access to local and national government programs and services through adequate and quality informations on the following areas:

• Livelihood and Job Opportunities
• Peace and Order and Public Safety
• Health and Sanitation
• Education and Social Welfare
• Agricultural Support Services
• Infrastructure Development
• Environmental Management
• Sports Development

OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE GMACs IN THE BARANGAYS

Features

• It is an information and action center.
• It is a facility to ensure people’s immediate access to information on government programs and services.
• It is a barangay-based and barangay-focused information and action center.

Composition

Each GMAC shall be headed by the Punong Barangay. He may appoint, as Information and Action Officers, the members of the Sangguniang Barangay, Barangay Treasurer, Barangay Secretary, Chairman of the Sangguniang Kabataan, Members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, and representatives of the Parents-Teachers Association, Associations of Senior Citizens, People’s Organization, Non-Government Organizations, and other community-based civic groups.

Basic Requirements and Facities

The barangay shall provide the structure for the GMAC. In the absence of such facility, the GMAC may be based in the barangay hall, reading center, library, or any appropriate building or structure in the barangay that is accessible to the public.

Basic Requirement inside the GMAC include but not limited to the following:

• Front Desk/Information Counter;
• Pigeon Hole;
• Billboard with Logo to be installed at a conspicuous place outside the GMAC;
• Backdrop with Logo;
• Logbook, referral and monitoring forms; and
• IEC materials of lead and partner agencies

Other Basic Prerequisites

The Sangguniang Barangay shall pass an ordinance for the establishment of the GMAC. It shall spell out the specific area of concern to be handled by each barangay kagawad including the Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson who shall automatically head the Sports Development Team. In case, the barangay kagawad declines his/her assignment, the Punong Barangay shall appoint his/her replacement from among the bonafide residents of the barangay.

Briefing Conference or an Orientation Seminar regarding the Establishment of the GMACs

It is appropriate that a briefing conference or an orientation seminar be conducted with the local authorities of a city, municipality and barangay.

Launching of the “Gabay sa Mamamayan Aksyon Centers in the Barangays Project”

Launching of the Project may be necessary to encourage other barangays to establish a GMAC in their respective barangays.

A launching of the Project may be conducted in two ways:

• Clustering-Barangays Approach is one practical way to pool resources together, at the same time, meeting the project objectives.
• Convergence-Zone Approach can be done in a “poblacion” or “centro” , or areas where the people converge daily, as well as, areas where major institutions and structures are found, such as city hall, market, school, church, hospital, etc.

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT MECHANISMS

Provincial, City, Municipal Governments shall provide administrative, technical, and financial assistance to the GMACs established within their areas of jurisdictions.

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS

• Provision of information and reading materials regarding its programs and projects;
• Prompt staff actions to various transactions done by the GMAC with the provincial government;
• Provision of financial assistance to the GMAC; and
• Assistance in networking with the various national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations and civil society organizations.

CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS

• Provision of information and reading materials regarding its programs and projects;
• Designation of a point person or a barangay/community affairs officer to act on referrals for endorsement to the city/municipal government;
• Prompt staff actions to various transactions done by the GMAC with the city/municipal government and other various national agencies based therein;
• Assistance to the conduct of various capability/capacity building and convergence activities to strengthen the GMAC; and
• Provision of financial assistance to the GMAC by including its Work and Financial Plan to the city/municipal Annual Investment Plan and its Annual Budget.

LEAD AGENCIES

• Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
• Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
• Department of National Defense (DND)
• Department of Health (DOH)
• Department of Education (DepED)
• Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
• Department of Agriculture (DA)
• Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
• Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
• Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)
• Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)
• Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEAGUES

• League of Provinces in the Philippines (LPP)
• League of Cities in the Philippines (LCP)
• League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP)
• Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB)
• Sangguniang Kabataan National Federation (SKNF)