At least 132 barangay workers in Umapad, Mandaue City who complained about the one-year delay in the release of their salary have already received about four months pay.
The barangay released the workers' salary for September 2024 to December 2024.
GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak has observed of employees who shared gracious smiles when asked on the release of their salary.
From January 2024, the workers did not receive their salary because of the non-approval of the barangay annual budget.
“Bisan tuod og sakit, pero sige na lang, at least nakabayad-bayad na mi sa ginagmay namo nga utang. Pero di pa gyud kompleto, di pa kompleto tawon. Pero at least happy ang Christmas bisan og kuwang,” Bernard Intiya, chief tanod of Barangay Umapad, said.
The employees have hoped again that the other eight months worth of salaries would be released soon, or the salary from January 2024 to August 2024.
The release of their salary from the September 2024 period was facilitated after the Barangay Council approved their appointment.
“Mao amo gisessionan, amo ibutang sa account payable kay inkaso og naay legal opinion from DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] og unsay decision pwede pa namo masweldo sa trabahante kay ako willing man ko mosign og unsa sa payroll,” Barangay Chairman Reb Cortes said.
For 2024, the barangay used the reenacted 2023 budget.
The barangay workers have complained repeatedly of the delay in their salaries, after it was found out that the payroll and the budget of the barangay were not signed. The barangay captain has been outnumbered reportedly at the Barangay Council.
In an interview in October 2024, the chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations said that there has been no intention to hold the salary, but government processes and the submission of required documents have to be observed and complied with by the book.
However, while the 132 received their salaries, at least three workers have to wait longer because their appointment was reportedly not concurred.
One of them is Helen Sungahid, a former councilwoman who now heads the Violence Against Women and Children’s (VAWC) Desk who was hurt by the situation.
“Sakit gyud pero ako ra gyud gikuan sa ako dughan nga madala nako. Gani niingon ko nga moundang na lang ko. Ako na lang ikuan sa barangay ako serbisyo,” Sungahid said.
Despite her circumstance, Sungahid thanked their barangay chairman for the release of salaries worth about four months.
The news team is yet to seek comment from the members of the majority at the Barangay Umapad Council on the issue, while awaiting a reply to a communication sent to the committee chairperson.
