Nemia Lacerna Malaga

Nemia Lacerna Malaga is the Punong Barangay currently leading Barangay MARI Pob., part of the municipality of Maasin in Iloilo, serving the 2023 - 2026 term. Under Philippine law, the Punong Barangay is directly elected by the residents of the barangay.

As the head of the smallest tier of Philippine local government, the Punong Barangay is responsible for everything from maintaining peace and order within the barangay to supervising the Barangay Development Plan, enforcing national and local laws within the barangay boundaries, and representing residents in the wider city or municipal government. The position is held for a four-year term under Republic Act No. 12232.

Barangay MARI Pob. is one of 50 barangays in the municipality of Maasin, in the province of Iloilo, in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2024 POPCEN (Census of Population) published by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay MARI Pob. had a population of 889 residents — the constituency that Nemia serves as Punong Barangay. Iloilo is classified as a 1st by the Bureau of Local Government Finance.

Elected through the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Nemia Lacerna Malaga is serving the current four-year term established under Republic Act No. 12232, which extended the barangay official's term from three years to four. The next BSKE will be held on Monday, November 2, 2026, following COMELEC Resolution No. 11191.

The Sangguniang Barangay — which Nemia Lacerna Malaga leads — is the legislative body of a Philippine barangay. It passes barangay ordinances and resolutions, approves the annual barangay budget, and exercises oversight over the barangay's programmes and projects. Its composition includes the Punong Barangay, seven kagawads, the SK Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, all accountable directly to residents.