UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES IN SANGGUNIANG BARANGAY SESSIONS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF ELECTED/APPOINTED OFFICIALS IN RURAL PHILIPPINES

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of barangay officials regarding the implementation challenges of parliamentary procedures during sangguniang barangay sessions in rural Philippines. Using purposive sampling, 13 barangay officials including captains, sangguniang barangay members, and secretaries from rural areas participated in in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using Moustakas' phenomenological framework to identify the essence of participants' experiences with parliamentary procedure implementation challenges. Five major themes emerged from the analysis: limited understanding of parliamentary procedure fundamentals, procedural confusion and meeting disruptions, emotional stress and professional inadequacy, community expectations versus procedural realities, and adaptive strategies and informal governance solutions. Participants consistently described struggles with basic parliamentary principles, confusion during legislative sessions leading to prolonged and disorganized meetings, and significant emotional responses including feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. The study revealed tensions between community expectations for professional governance conduct and officials' actual capacity to deliver such governance through proper parliamentary procedures. Despite these challenges, participants demonstrated resilience by developing adaptive strategies including simplified local rules, peer learning networks, and seeking guidance from municipal officials. The findings highlight the gap between mandated procedural requirements and the practical realities faced by rural barangay officials. This study contributes to understanding the human dimension of local governance challenges and has significant implications for designing more effective, culturally appropriate training programs that address both technical skills and psychological support for barangay officials. The research emphasizes the need for comprehensive capacity building interventions that acknowledge the unique contextual challenges of rural governance in the Philippines.