Bill seeks regular pay for village officials
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara is pushing anew for a measure to provide better, commensurate pay to the country’s frontline workers, its barangay officials and employees.
Senate Bill No. 136, or the Magna Carta for Barangays, seeks to give barangay officials better benefits and pay, as well as increased local autonomy.
“Every time there’s a problem, the barangay is the first responder of people who need help. They first respond to crisis but they are lagging behind in terms of benefits,” Angara said in a statement.
Angara’s bill seeks to treat barangay officials as regular government employees who will receive fixed salaries, allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement and other fringe benefits.
The barangay chair will be entitled to receive the salary of a Sangguniang Bayan member in his city or town.
The six barangay board members will receive a salary equivalent to 80 percent of the salary of a Sangguniang Bayan member.
The Kabataang Barangay chair, barangay secretary and barangay treasurer will get an amount equivalent to 75 percent of the salary of a Sangguniang Bayan member.
No fixed salaries
At present, barangay officials do not receive fixed salaries and are only entitled to honoraria and other allowances.
Also under the bill, the national treasury should automatically remit to the barangays their just share from the national taxes to ensure that the barangays enjoy local autonomy, Angara said.
Funds intended for the maintenance of barangay roads, bridges and other infrastructure will go directly to the general fund of the barangays for disposition by its officials.
A total of 25 percent of all taxes collected on real property located within the barangay will go to barangay funds, while another 10 percent from all other taxes, fees, penalties and charges collected from persons and establishments within the barangay will also go to the barangays.
“We cannot overemphasize the importance of the barangay in the lives of every household. Before any matter goes up to the mayor or the courts, it is the barangay that is tasked to resolve this. It is about time that we strengthen our barangays through a Magna Carta for Barangays,” Angara added.
