Ralota backs gratuity pay for barangay officials

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Michael Ralota supports the proposal to grant a gratuity pay to all barangay officials who have served three consecutive terms.

Ralota, president of the Association of Barangay Councils in Cebu City, welcomed the proposed House Bill 1846 authored by First District Rep. Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina City.

As soon as the proposed bill is enacted into law, all barangay captains who have served three consecutive terms will get P200,000 in gratuity while the members of the barangay council will have P150,000.

Ralota said he will sponsor a resolution in the City Council endorsing the measure as it will benefit about 41,995 barangay captains and 293,965 barangay councilmen nationwide.

Once the bill is approved, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is mandated to regularly include in their annual appropriation an amount corresponding to the total gratuity pay due to all qualified awardees.

A barangay council is composed of Punong Barangay or captain, seven Barangay Kagawads and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman.

Ralota said government leaders must acknowledge that the barangay officials are serving as the primary planning and implementing arms of the government. (FREEMAN)