Bayambang’s barangay captains and barangay “enumerators” were called to a meeting on May 8, 2017, at the Municipal Events Center to inform them about recent issues and concerns surrounding the use of Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), a development tool which the LGU has adopted.

As per DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2015-17, CBMS is to be used as “a Millennium Development Goal benchmarking, poverty diagnosis and monitoring tool [that should enable] LGUs to accurately map out a household-based socio-economic profile.” “An instrument for evidence-based planning, budgeting and project beneficiary prioritization,” CBMS “may also be used in conjunction with hazard maps, to better identify constituents at risk or are vulnerable to disasters.”

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Present during the meeting was no less than Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, who impressed upon barangay officials the importance of submitting accurate data to the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) because they are in the best position to see to it that the CBMS forms are properly filled out and completed. He was joined at the table by Bayambang PNP Chief PSupt. Cirilo Acosta Jr. and Deputy Chief for Operations Major Dennis Balitoc, MLGOO Romarie Soriano, Ex-Councilor Levin Uy, ABC President Rogelio Dumalanta, Consultant on Barangay Affairs Gerry Flores, and MPDO OIC Ma-lene Torio.

Earlier, every barangay has been provided a tablet for the purpose of adopting the CBMS in mobile format in addition to the paper-based form.
CBMS Form 1 is a Household Profile Questionnaire, which asks a household’s location, housing characteristics, and household characteristics. A wealth of information from this form alone can be gathered, such as the number of houses with light materials and the number of household members who are OFWs, disabled, pregnant, or solo parent. These data, in turn, can be used by the LGU to, among other things, help determine which projects best suit which particular purok or barangay.