Bill for fixed salaries, benefits of barangay officials filed in Senate

A bill seeking to make barangay officials regular government employees who are entitled to fixed salaries and benefits has been filed in the Senate.

Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on local government and author of Senate Bill No. 2097 or the proposed Magna Carta for Barangays , said it is time to recognize the role of barangay officials as frontliners of government service.

“Panahon na para bigyan natin ng pagkilala at importansya ang serbisyong inihahatid ng ating mga opisyal sa barangay sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay sa kanila ng sapat at tamang sweldo at hindi lamang basta honorarium,” he said.

“They are at the forefront of government service and they serve the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he added.

Under the Local Government Code, barangay officials should only receive honorariums, and not salaries. At present, a barangay chairman gets an honorarium of at least P1,000 per month while the councilors, treasurer and secretary each receive P600 monthly.

Under the proposed measure, the punong barangay shall receive an amount equivalent to the salary of a Sangguniang Bayan member of his municipality.

Meanwhile, each of the six barangay kagawad shall be given an amount equivalent to 80 percent of the Sangguniang Bayan member’s salary, and the Kabataang Barangay chairman and barangay secretary and treasurer, equivalent to 75 percent.

Aside from fixed salaries, Angara also proposed that barangay officials to get regular allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and such other fringe benefits extended to permanent government workers.

The proposed Magna Carta for Barangays intends to help barangays perform their mandate of delivering basic services and facilities to their respective communities in the “most efficient, responsive and sustainable manner.”

It also aims to provide communities with appropriate basic services and facilities such as regular supply of clean and potable water, public transportation, schools, health centers and barangay halls in order to meet the requirements of their local populace.

The bill outlines measures that will help ensure barangays enjoy genuine and meaningful local autonomy and attain full development, namely: automatic release of their share from national taxes; transfer of funds for maintenance of roads and bridges; mandatory share of barangay taxes, fees and other charges; and priority in employment. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News