Senators eye higher pay for barangay officials, workers

Senators on Tuesday expressed support for the proposed increase in the compensation and improved benefits for barangay officials and workers, saying that their monthly honoraria are too low for their workload.

According to Senator Rodante Marcoleta, barangay captains receive an average of P8,000 per month, while barangay tanods P1,500, and members of the Lupon Tagapamayapa P300 only.

“Yun ang average po nationwide, P8,000. It's the salary of our kasambahay in Manila. Totoo po ito. So para kasambahay na lamang po. Ang responsibility ng barangay captain, 24/7 — overworked, underpaid,” Marcoleta said during a Senate committee on local government hearing.

(That's the average nationwide, P8,000. It's the salary of our housekeeper in Manila. It's true. So it's just for housekeepers. The responsibility of the barangay captain, 24/7 — overworked, underpaid.)

Marcoleta suggested raising the pay for them to at least P13,000 as he considered the amount of minimum wage for private sector workers.

“At least P13,000, maligaya lahat ng barangay. Hindi P5,000, hindi P3,000. Doon natin gustong ilagay sana ang kalagayan ng mga barangay officials natin para maging may konting ano disente naman ang kanilang pamumuhay,” he said.

(At least P13,000, all the barangays will be happy. Not P5,000, not P3,000. That's where we want to put the status of our barangay officials so that they can have a little bit of a decent life.)

The committee chairperson, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, also expressed support for the increase in the pay of barangay officials and workers as he called on concerned agencies to cooperate with the legislators.

“Medyo tulungan ninyo naman itong ating committee upang mabigyan natin ng sapat na benepisyo at pagkilala at bigyan naman natin ng dignidad itong ating mga barangay officials dahil ito 'yung mga nasa front line,” he added.

(You should help our committee so that we can provide sufficient benefits and recognition and give dignity to our barangay officials because they are the ones on the front line.)

The Senate committee on local government discussed the proposed Magna Carta for Barangays, the Barangay Officials’ Compensation and Benefits Act, and the Barangay Tanod Permanent Appointment Act, among others. —AOL, GMA Integrated News