Fixed salary, regular status for brgy. officials sought

A measure providing fixed salaries for barangay officials and declaring them as regular government employees has been filed in the House of Representatives.

Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte made the proposal under House Bill 502, noting that the barangay serves as the office of first resort of the people and is expected to address a number of issues apart from their regular duties and responsibilities.

Under the bill, the punong barangay will receive an amount equivalent to 80% of the salary of a Sanggunian member of the city or municipality where the barangay is located.

Sangguniang Barangay members, on the other hand, will receive an amount equivalent to 65% of the salary of a Sanggunian member of the city or municipality where the barangay is located.

The barangay secretary and barangay treasurer, meanwhile, will be entitled to 50% of the salary of a Sanggunian member of the city or municipality where the barangay is located.

“It is high time that our barangay officials be given what is due for them and recognize their vital role in the communities. As the basic political unit, the barangay serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government projects, programs and policies," Duterte said in a statement.

"In fact, most of the national government’s efforts require intervention and support of the barangay as they are the closest form of government to the people," he added.

As regular government employees, the barangay officials will be covered by the Government Service Insurance System, PhilHealth, and the Pag-Ibig Fund benefits.

Under the existing law, the barangay chairman and members of the barangay council are receiving compensation in the form of honorarium for wide range of roles and responsibilities.

Other co-authors of the measure were Benguet Representative Eric Yap,  ACT-CIS party-list Representatives Edvic Yap, Jocelyn Tulfo, and Jeffrey Soriano.—AOL, GMA News