Capitol set to release incentives to brgy workers

CEBU, Philippines - Despite earlier findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) stating that the giving of incentives to barangay workers is illegal, the Provincial Capitol is still doing it, saying there is legal basis to it.

"Even without awaiting sa reply (of COA), ihatag man gyud na siya. In fact, gi-process na. I even signed the disbursement, said Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega.

Ortega said the Capitol is expected to release the productivity incentives, which is the same amount as in the past, to barangay workers before the month ends.

There is no legal impediment to it, according to Ortega, as what COA gave to them is not "disallowance" but merely an observation, and that they already replied to it.

"Natubag na officially. We explained nga di ni mo-fall sa provision they cited nga ma-disallow later on. We told them nga naay legal basis nga nanghatag ta," he said.

As of this week, COA has not given its comment to the Capitol's response of its findings.

Late last year, COA, in its audit observation memorandum, told the Capitol that the granting of additional compensation or incentives to barangay officials and workers is illegal under Section 4.2 of the Local Budget Circular.

This provision, issued on Oct. 2, 1996, states that the Province cannot grant additional pay, even in a form of honorarium or salary increase, to barangay officials and workers.

The Capitol was supposed to release the incentives last December but because of COA's findings, it had to stall it while it communicated with the said auditing body.

But Ortega said that the provision highlighted by COA was already amended by

Section  3.2 and Sec 3.2.3.3 of the Department of Budget and Management Circular 73, dated Jan. 10, 2001, wherein the granting of honoraria to frontline workers at the barangay "shall be charged from the barangay funds, provided that this does not preclude higher local governments to undertake projects in the barangay, which may include the payment of honoraria to its volunteer workers charged from funds of LGU concerned."

Also, Ortega said that what the Capitol is giving is not an increase of the workers' honoraria but merely an incentive given every December, and only when the Province has enough funds for it.  (FREEMAN)