P100M needed for honorariums

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government needs a budget of about P100 million to pursue the plan granting additional monthly honorariums to barangay officials, including the treasurers and secretaries.

The amount will also include the budget to buy brand new vehicles to the city’s 80 barangay captains.

Mayor Michael Rama said he wanted to include barangay secretaries and treasurers among those receiving P3,000 additional monthly honorariums from the City Hall.

But Rama clarified that he would wait for the opinion of the Commission on Audit (COA) over the legality of his plan.

Earlier, he announced that he will provide a brand new 4x4 vehicle to each barangay captain. Granting the amount of each vehicle is P750,000, Rama would need at least P60 million for the vehicles alone.

Since he wanted to give additional P5,000 monthly allowance to each barangay captain, the mayor will need another P4.8 million as he wants the incentives retroactive from January.

He also needs another P25,920,000 for the P3,000 monthly honorariums of the 720 barangay councilmen, treasurers and secretaries. The honorarium will be retroactive from January.

Although he sees Rama’s plan as having political motives, Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said he supported the move.

“Basta makaayo sa katawhan dili ta mosupak,” Young said, adding that providing barangay officials with vehicles is one way to help them serve the people better.

But Young advised Rama to wait for the opinion of the COA before releasing the benefit.

Rama’s announcement to give vehicles to barangay captains came after south district Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña promised to provide barangay captains with Samsung Galaxy tab.

Political observers said Rama does not want barangay officials to abandon him in his quest for reelection in the 2013 elections.

Rama had admitted that there are barangay leaders who are not efficient, appearing only during sessions.

But he hopes that the additional honorarium from City Hall will encourage them to change their behavior.

Barangay captains Jose Navarro, Omar Durano and Manuel Guanzon of Punta Princesa, Cogon-Ramos and Capitol Site admitted that there are lazy councilmen in their barangays.

“Maayo pa kanila ang mga treasurer ug secretary kay motrabaho pa g’yud mao nga angay’ng iapil sila sa paghatag og  dugang honoraryom,” they said.

Although they are only appointed officials, barangay treasurers and secretaries are receiving the same honorariums as those elected councilmen.

The law provides that a monthly honorarium of a barangay captain should not exceed P20,000 even if the barangay can afford higher honorariums. — /LPM (FREEMAN)