Binay pushes for regularization of barangay officials

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar Binay renewed his call for barangay (village) officials to become regular government employees so they would receive mandated benefits.

At present, barangay officials, including barangay captains, kagawad (council members), and health workers, receive a monthly honorarium instead of a fixed regular income.

Binay said he already asked her daughter, Senator Nancy Binay, to revive a pending legislation pertaining to what he has been proposing.

“Actually, may pending legislation ‘yan, natulog na naman ‘ata. Sabi ko kay Senator Nancy [Binay], buhayin niya,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

(There is already pending legislation on that, but it seems that it has stalled. I told Senator Nancy [Binay] to revive it.)

He said a bill was also filed in the previous Congress but was not approved.

“Noon pa man, since I was the mayor of Makati, [I had already been pushing for barangay officials to become government employees],” Binay said.

The Vice President lamented the fact that barangay officials do not get any benefits when they retire from service.

“Mag-retire sila, walang makukuha. Magandang maging member sila ng Pag-IBIG, magkaroon ng GSIS at PhilHealth. Ang mga ‘yan mandatory if you are a government employee,” Binay said.

(They will get nothing when they retire. It would be better if they become member of Pag-IBIG, if they have GSIS and PhilHealth. These are all mandatory if you are a government employee)

Part of the Vice President’s  proposal was to  review the salary schemes of barangay officials.

“May mahirap na lugar at may mayaman na lugar. Sa mayaman na lugar, mataas din naman ang standard of living. Kung kaya naman ng local government, bakit hindi taasan,” he said.

Binay, who chairs the Pag-IBIG Fund, announced in 2012 the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Pag-IBIG and the Liga ng mga Barangay, allowing barangay chairs and their councilmen to become Fund members.

As Pag-IBIG Fund members, barangay officials would be able to avail themselves of multi-purpose loans for educational, health, and other needs.

They may also secure calamity loans and housing loans, as well as other benefits that the Fund offers, Binay added.

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