Punta council files retirement gratuity plan for brgy. Execs

The Punta Princesa barangay council has filed an ordinance, known as retirement gratuity plan for barangay officials, in recognition of the contributions of barangay officials to community development and to set equality in retirement benefits.

Punta Princesa barangay captain Jose Navarro said that while barangay officials are entitled to leave credits or benefits equivalent to 30 days for every year of service in the barangay, they are not given any form of gratuity when they retire from office.

Navarro, former Association of Barangay Councils president, has been pushing for the retirement gratuity for barangay officials.

Pursuant to Sec. 393 of the Local Government Code, barangay officials are only compensated in the form of honoraria. However, for purposes of determining the monetary value as well as the accreditation of services in the barangay as government service, the honoraria they receive shall be treated as fixed salary.

Navarro said the Local Government Code also authorizes the barangays to appropriate benefit packages for barangay officials as long as there are available funds that can be used for the purpose.

The following formula, that shall be adopted in computing the amount to be given as retirement gratuity to qualified officials, will be based on the length of service, according to Navarro,.

For officials and appointed members who had served three years and below, the amount equivalent to monthly honorarium shall be three months. For over three to six years, six to nine years, and over nine years and above, the amount equivalent to monthly honorarium shall be six, nine, and 12 months, respectively.

The appropriated amount will be charged against the barangay budget for personnel services, Navarro said.

The Punta Princesa barangay ordinance was referred to the committee on barangay affairs headed by acting ABC president Rodolfo Estella for further study.

Navarro said that if the committee on barangay affairs approves the measure, he believes other barangays would follow suit.

"This retirement gratuity shall be applied to both elected and appointed barangay officials currently holding office upon approval of the ordinance," Navarro said. - Garry B. Lao