Binay stresses that brgy leaders may now be Pag-IBIG members

CEBU, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay confirmed that barangay officials may now become members of the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, and he is even pushing for their membership in the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

“Ang maganda nito ay sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay yung mga barangay officials magmula sa mga kapitan hanggang sa mga kagawad ay pwede nang maging miyembro ng Pag-IBIG. So, at least as a member of Pag-IBIG, yung maraming benepisyo ng pagiging miyembro, matatanggap nila,” Binay said. (For the first time, barangay captains and councilors could now get benefits.)

Binay, who is chair of the Pag-IBIG Fund, announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Pag-IBIG and the Liga ng mga Barangay, allowing barangay chairs and their kagawads to become Fund members.

As members of Pag-IBIG, barangay officials would be able to avail themselves of Multi-Purpose loans for educational, health and other needs. They may also secure Calamity Loans, and Housing Loans as well as other benefits that the Fund offers.

“Maaari na kayong makapag-ipon para sa inyong kinabukasan. Sa tulong din ng kasunduang ito, may pagkakataon pa na tapatan ng barangay ang inyong ihuhulog sa Pag-IBIG kaya’t agad na magiging doble ang ipon ninyo,” Binay said. (You may now save for your future. With this agreement, the barangays may also give a counterpart to double your savings.)

He said that he will request President Benigno Aquino III and the GSIS to consider immediately extending GSIS membership to barangay officials.

Former Cebu City Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Eugenio “Jingjing” Faelnar said that this is a good improvement for the incumbent barangay officials.

“It’s good for us also for incumbent barangay officials. Kay ang uban wa pa maapil niini. Bahala na lang ug politika ni o dili, basta makatabang ni sa tanan. Maayo gyud ni ug mahinayon gyud. Mau pod ni akong gusto sukad pa, and I’m happy nga mahitabo na gyud ni siya karun,” Faelnar said. (It does not matter whether this is political or not, what’s important is it could help all of us.)

Binay also proposed the economic clustering of barangays and the establishment of local government unit (LGU) banks and LGU Cooperative Banks to further push the viability of barangays as engines of growth.

Binay addressed this during the annual convention of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Pasay City, saying that while barangays officials are expected to be at the forefront in responding to calamities and even domestic concerns, they have in the past been deprived benefits as government employees.

“Noong ako ay mayor pa lamang, lagi kong pinapansin na ang ating mga opisyal ng barangay - na inaasahan natin na laging naririyan tuwing may sunog, baha, aksidente o away ng magkakapitbahay - ay ni hindi man lamang miyembro ng GSIS. Kung kayat kapag matapos ang mahabang taon ng serbisyo, ang ating mga opisyal ng barangay ay magreretiro na ni wala man lamang katiting na pensiyon mula sa pamahalaan,” he said in a press statement. (When I was still mayor, I always gave focus on improbing the lot of the barangay officials who are at the forefront whether there’s flooding, fire, accidents or even petty neighborhood quarrels. These barangay officials often retire without getting a single cent of pension from the government.)

“Under the Local Government Code, the barangays are already empowered to promote this kind of initiative and the USAID has proposed funding for such an initiative,” he said.

He likewise proposed adopting the ideas of countries like Germany and Costa Rica in setting up local government banks and LGU cooperative banks.

According to Binay, local government banks “could tap local resources and provide greater focus on local projects.”

Meanwhile, cooperative banks provide a way to pool the resources of local government units, especially adjacent ones.  (FREEMAN)