Dad revives proposal for: Retired barangay officials’ benefits

CEBU, Philippines — After being rejected, the proposed ordinance establishing retirement gratuity benefits for elected barangay officials was re-submitted to the Cebu City Council.

City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, proponent of the measure, said the city should do this considering that barangay officials are not getting big amounts as honoraria for their services.

“I re-submitted it para ma-schedule ang public hearing after the report sa committee on laws. No changes but after the hearing, I’m sure that there will be suggestions and we will change them accordingly,” he said,

In his proposal, Garcia said retired barangay captains will get P5,000 for every year of service and barangay councilors will get P3,000 for every year of service.

Garcia said barangay officials who were ordered dismissed from public service or those meted suspension as a penalty for violations are disqualified from getting the retirement benefits.

He said there was no public hearing last year when he introduced the proposed ordinance because the council’s committee on laws, ordinances, and styling rejected the proposal.

The public hearing is an avenue for affected stakeholders to share their sentiments on the proposed ordinance.

"Barangay officials who receive salaries in the form of honoraria are not automatically registered under the Government Service Insurance System," a portion of the proposed ordinance read.

Last year, Councilor Sisinio Andales read the committee on laws’ report on the proposed ordinance which was recommended to be rejected citing additional burden to the city government.

“This committee finds the proposed ordinance to be beyond the power of this sanggunian to enact, on the reason that ‘retirement gratuity benefit’ is not included in the enumerated benefits barangay officials may receive,” read a portion of the committee report which was approved by eight councilors of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.

Garcia, an opposition councilor, submitted the proposed ordinance this year since both parties are on equal footing with eight members each bloc.

Association of Barangay Councils-Cebu City Chapter President Phillip Zafra earlier expressed his support of the proposed measure.

Zafra said these barangay officials have contributed a lot to the development of their barangays even if they are not entitled to other benefits enjoyed by a government employee.

“They have no GSIS, PhilHealth, PAG-IBIG, among others. And yet some of them have been in the services stay 20 to 40 years. Upon retirement of service, wala silay benefit nga madawat,” he added. (FREEMAN)