A barangay in the Municipality of Pavia, Province of Iloilo is recognized for its team of barangay “tanods” (village watchmen).

It is a huge responsibility to be in command of tanods, said Jonathan Lastimoso, tanod commander of Barangay Tigum in Pavia.

In the morning, Jonathan drives a tricycle. At nighttime, he reports for duty as tanod.

“Syempre ang sa amin lang ay makatulong sa mga residente na walang kapalit. Masaya na kami,” Jonathan said.

Recently, Barangay Tigum has been recognized by the Iloilo Provincial Government for having the Most Outstanding Tanod in the first to third class municipalities in the province.

Barangay Tigum tops 15 participating local government units (LGU).

Skills in emergency response or disaster preparedness of barangay tanods, being frontliners, were put to the test.

“Alam ko na ang mga tanod ko may knowledge na about sa bagay na yan. Kung papa’no mag-apprehend ng mga suspek at arrest technique. Ngunit ipinasasailalim ko pa rin sila sa training,” said Barangay Tigum Chairman Ferdinand Guillem.

Orderly and prompt documentation of their accomplishments, proper grooming, and regular physical examinations to ensure the barangay tanods’ capacities to respond to emergency and disasters with a sense of urgency all helped clinched the award.

“Because of their passion and dedication na mag-give service sa community, nag-u-unite sila. At ang aming LGU, nagbibigay support at ang barangay, nagbibigay ng honoraria and at the same time meron rin silang insurance,” Norman Camiros, barangay councilman of Tigum, emphasized.

The barangay is set to receive a cash prize worth P100,000 and will move on to the regional level of the competition.

An onsite validation in the barangay, as a requisite in the regional level, is set on August 25, 2025 and September 12, 2025.