Capitol raises allowance of barangay volunteers

ALL 11,355 barangay volunteers in the Cebu province each received a P2,400 allowance from the provincial government during their general assembly at the Cebu International Convention Center yesterday.

The amount is P900 higher than last year’s allowance.

A total of 200 retired barangay volunteers were give P10,000 each as a token of appreciation for their service.

Gov. Gwen Garcia said that all barangay volunteers deserve it, and the amount was little compared to the work they do in their barangays.

Barangay Health Worker Esperanza Espelita, 66, said the passion to serve and not financial reward, was her motivation in doing volunteer work.

Espelita, a mother of six, has been a health worker barangay Tapon, Dumanjug town for 28 years.

She does laundry jobs in their neighborhood for a livelihood.

“Bisan way sweldo, ang akong kagustuhan nga moserbisyo sa mas nanginahanglan maoy nagtuklod nako nga magsigi nianing serbisyoha,” Espelita said.

(Even if I won’t receive any compensation, my determination to serve the needy pushes me to continue volunteer service.)

Espelita said she first received P300 a month as honorarium in 2000. The amount was later increased to P350.

For Anastacia Ruiz, 54, barangay Bonbon, Oslob, the goods and money the received in the annual general assembly of barangay volunteers was a consolation for their hard work.

Governor Garcia handed out the allowances and distributed food packs of canned goods and sotanghon (glass noodles).