Incentives for brgy officials may be out by 4th quarter

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama has proposed to include in the city’s Supplemental Budget No. 2 his promise of incentives for barangay officials. Rama made the promise during his State of the City Address last July 1.

City Councilor Jose Daluz III, former chairman of the committee on budget and finance who has worked on SB 2 before he was assigned as chairman of the committee on agriculture, said at least P9.1 million has been proposed for the incentives of the officials.

All 80 barangay captains and 560 barangay councilmen in the city’s 80 barangays shall receive the incentives or additional honoraria starting July to December this year. And because Rama has promised the same, the budget for incentives might be included in the annual budget starting next year. The additional honoraria for barangay officials will cost the city some P18 million annually.

Daluz said the program will benefit barangay officials who maintain order in their respective jurisdiction and help the city bring the services closer to the people.

“We spend about P24 million for judges’ allowance. It’s about time that we also recognize our barangay officials,” Daluz said.

SB 2 is still pending for submission to the City Council because the local budget and finance committee is still finalizing the items.

The proposed SB 2 will amount to about P1.1 billion, a bulk of which or about P600 million will go to the priority projects of the mayor.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said the proposal is being finalized because they would want to make sure that every item will have proper supporting documents or explanation.

He said the City Council, headed by Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, had advised ahead of time for supporting documents of detailed breakdown of lump sum appropriations.

The priority projects of the mayor are the rehabilitation of Cardon Market, the implementation of a comprehensive drainage system, road concreting, financial assistance to senior citizens and livelihood programs for the affected families of the restoration of three-meter easement zone in rivers and creeks of the city. – (FREEMAN)