Rep. Suarez wants higher compensation, benefits for barangay execs

House Minority Leader Rep. Danilo Suarez. PATHRICIA ROXAS / INQUIRER.net

House Minority Leader Rep. Danilo Suarez is calling for higher compensation and benefits for barangay officials, saying they are receiving a “mere pittance” compared to the compensation of other government officials.

“We must remember that our barangay workers are the first points of contact in terms of providing goods and services… They should be rightfully regarded as career professionals,” Suarez said in a media briefing Wednesday.

The House leader said under House Bill 598 which he filed in June 2016, one percent would be added to the share of the local government in the national internal revenue taxes, increasing it to 41 percent from the current 40 percent.

“This additional 1% shall be placed in a ‘special account solely dedicated to the barangay retirement fund for the retirement pay of barangay officials, whether elected or appointed, including barangay tanods, health workers, day care workers, and members of the lupon tagapamayapa,” Suarez added.

The bill, which seeks to amend the Local Government Code of 1991, also states that the lump sum retirement pay should be equivalent to one year honorarium, not exceeding P100,000, provided that the retiree is 60 years old and has rendered a minimum of nine years in service at the time of retirement.

After two postponements, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections finally pushed through last Monday.

At present, the Local Government Code provides for a P1,000 per month basic honorarium for barangay chairman, and P600 for councilors; a Christmas bonus of at least P1,000; and other benefits including insurance coverage, medical care and free hospitalization in government hospitals, and free tuition in public schools of barangay chairman and two legitimate dependent children during their term of office. /je