Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives)
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez announced on Saturday that the House of Representatives is currently working to pass the Magna Carta for Barangays, citing the importance of having a comprehensive support and benefits system for barangay officials.
This is apart from the initiatives to provide barangay officials Social Security System (SSS) benefits and a fixed six-year term.
“Nais ko ring ipahayag na kahit abala tayo sa mga hakbangin na ito, hindi pa rin natin pinapabayaan ang pangarap nating magkaroon ng Magna Carta for Barangays,” said Romualdez in the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas 2024 National Congress at the World Trade Center.
(We are not neglecting our dream to have a Magna Carta for Barangays.)
“Sa panukalang ito, layunin natin na gawing komprehensibo ang mga benepisyo at suporta na ibinibigay natin sa mga barangay officials,” added Romualdez.
(In this proposal, we aim to have comprehensive benefits and support for barangay officials.)
“Hinihikayat ko kayong lahat na magpasa ng mga position papers at ipagpatuloy ang ating ugnayan upang masigurong maisama ang inyong mga kahilingan sa panukalang ito,” he said.
(I encourage you all to pass your position papers and let’s continue our coordination to ensure that your preferences will be integrated in this proposal.)
Romualdez likewise told barangay officials on Tuesday that he met with the SSS President Rolando Macasaet to make them members of the pension fund.
According to Macasaet, Romualdez sought to waive penalties of unpaid loans of barangay officials who are already members of the SSS.
Meanwhile, Romualdez also said on Tuesday that the proposal to give barangay officials a six-year term will pave the way for the creation of long-term barangay-level programs.
“Dahil dito, minabuti ko na mag-akda ng panukalang batas na layong gawing anim na taon ang fixed-term ng mga halal na barangay officials. Sa ganitong paraan, magkakaroon kayo ng sapat na oras upang magplano at magpatupad ng mga pangmatagalang programa para sa ikauunlad ng inyong barangay,” he said.
(Because of this, I authored a bill on the six-year fixed term for elected barangay officials. This way, you will have enough time to plan and implement long-term programs for the development of your barangays.)