PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continued to push for measures empowering barangays as the frontline unit of governance in the country by providing barangay personnel with capability building opportunities as well as regular salaries and additional benefits, among others.
“Ang barangay ang pangunahing hanay ng gobyerno na nalalapitan ng mga tao sa kanilang komunidad. Sila ang haligi ng maayos na pagpapatakbo ng bansa at pagpapaabot ng serbisyo sa mga nangangailangan. Sila ang takbuhan, ang first responders, at ang may alam ng tunay na kalagayan sa baba,” Go explained.
“Kung kaya’t dapat mas lalong palakasin ang kanilang kakayahan at maalagaan ang kanilang kapakanan,” he emphasized.
Recognizing their efforts to serve their constituents, Go said barangay officials should receive similar benefits given to regular government employees. This prompted him to refile Senate Bill No. 197 providing a Magna Carta for Barangays. He also filed Senate Bill No. 427 which mandates the provision of allowances and incentives to barangay health workers.
“We all know that the barangay and its officials are the immediate provider of frontline services to our fellow countrymen. Sila ang pinakaunang tinatakbuhan ng ating mga kababayan,” Go said.
“And it is because of this reason that we have to further improve the barangays and address the woes of our barangay officials,” he added.
Under SB 197, barangay officials will be treated as regular government employees. The Punong Barangay, members of the Sangguniang Barangay, the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson, the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer will be entitled to salaries, emoluments, allowances such as hazard pay, representation and transportation allowance, 13th month pay and other benefits that regular government employees enjoy.
The Sangguniang Barangay will also be given the authority to determine the appropriate number of barangay tanods needed with permanent status during the administration of the Sangguniang Barangay which appointed them. They will likewise be entitled to honoraria, allowances and other benefits.
Furthermore, all barangays will enjoy basic priorities, such as construction of at least a facility for drawing drinking water for every 1,000 residents; public transportation by asking government agencies to require public utility companies to provide minimum means of transportation; and at least a kindergarten, an elementary school for every barangay, and a high school for every five kilometers from the barangay center; a health center and a barangay hall.
Their share from various taxes shall also be directly released to them without need for further action. All public funds from the National Treasury for the maintenance of barangay roads and bridges and similar construction works should also be transferred to the barangays’ general fund.
SB 427, on the other hand, will provide a monthly allowance of PhP3,000 to all barangay health workers. They will also be entitled to benefits and privileges and security of tenure.
“Dapat gawing mandatory ang posisyon ng mga barangay health workers at ayusin ang kanilang mga benepisyo,” Go stressed.
The bill mandates the appointment of at least two BHWs per barangay. More may be appointed based on the number of households in the barangay and upon the recommendation of the Department of Health as long as the number of BHWs will not exceed 1 percent of the population of the barangay.
Other benefits and privileges enumerated in the bill include leave benefits, Civil Service Eligibility, Christmas bonus, among others. BHWs will also be entitled to GSIS, PhilHealth and PAG-IBIG benefits.
Go reiterated that village personnel bear a heavy responsibility to help spur development in their locality so they should be provided with compensation comparable with the pay rate of regular government employees.
“Tulad ng ibang kawani ng gobyerno, dapat ay ma-recognize at mabigyang importansiya ang kanilang role sa ating komunidad,” said Go. (OSBG)
