BIN: P100 daily wage not enough

CEBU, Philippines - The members of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) are asking Cebu City to increase their daily honorarium because P100 per day is no longer enough to sustain their everyday living.

In a meeting with city hall officials and Cebu City Police Office Director Ramon Melvin Buenafe yesterday, BIN members appealed for an increase in their honorarium but did not specify yet how much they want.

Philip Zafra, head of the Civil Security Unit and the Peace and Order Program said the request seems valid because P100 a day cannot sustain the daily needs of a family.

 But he said it is still subject to the approval of the Mayor which will depend on how much the BIN will later propose.

Zafra told them to just do their job and prove that they deserve an increase. Zafra said they have received reports that some BIN members leave their post but are still paid.

Mayor Michael Rama will have it studied but pointed out that he is still in favor of hiring blue guards than letting the BIN take charge of the security of the city hall facilities.

He said the city cannot seek accountability from the BIN which consists of volunteers from different barangays.

“Lisod man gud na kung naay mahitabo, wala ta’y magukod. Maayo man ning magkuha ta sa agency kay naa ta’y agency nga mapaninglan,” Rama said.

He said the city has no say about the BIN because it is a group formed by the Police. They are however a recognized Auxiliary Force and are supported by the city government through the honorarium provided them.

Zafra said they called the meeting with the BIN members yesterday to clarify that the city has no intention of dissolving them.

He said there is a growing anxiety among members because of rumors that they will be dissolved.

According to Zafra, Buenafe told them that they may remain a group, but their function must be reverted back to the original purpose they were created for.

BIN members are supposed to give intelligence information to barangay tanods or to the police but they are functioning now as security aid.

Zafra said those who want to remain as BIN members must function as undercover agents while those who want to work as security will be integrated to the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team.

Zafra said that those who will remain with the BIN will undergo training to be provided by the CCPO on how to do basic intelligence work. (FREEMAN)