Senators press for more benefits for barangay workers

MANILA, Philippines — Senators are pushing for the immediate grant of benefits for barangay workers as Congress is still in the process of crafting a bill to increase their pay.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, who filed Senate Bill 391 or the proposed Barangay Services Compensation Act, noted it will take some time before lawmakers are able to pass the measure.

He said he would suggest to President Duterte the provision of cash incentives to barangay officials in December to show his support for them. If funds are available, cash incentives will also be granted to them in mid-2020.

“Our barangays are not on autopilot. They are manned by these hardworking and dedicated individuals who, despite their seemingly thankless job, are committed to ensuring that our barangays serve the purpose they are intended for,” Go said. 

“I will suggest to President Duterte that our barangay officials be given cash incentives this December while we await the passage of the law,” he said.

Sen. Francis Tolentino, chairman of the committee on local government, which is deliberating on the measure, urged the Department of Budget and Management to create a separate hybrid employee classification that will accommodate the regularization of barangay workers, in order for the agency to allot a portion of the national budget for the 41,976 barangays all over the country. 

Under Tolentino’s version of the measure, barangay officials shall be recognized as regular government employees and as such, shall be covered by the Government Service Insurance System under which they will receive life insurance and retirement, disability, separation and unemployment benefits.

They can also avail themselves of free health benefits as part of the government medical insurance under existing laws. 

He also proposed granting the barangay officials the power to decide and provide other benefits for their employees, depending on their financial capacity. 

“Although considered the closest government officials to the people, they are the most under-appreciated among the government employees in terms of salary as well as employment benefits and privileges. They do their best to deliver local services despite limited funding given to them. Thus, it is only right that the state duly recognizes these employees by granting them well-deserved benefits and incentives,” he said.

Sen. Bong Revilla also pushed for the provision of a decent salary increase and additional benefits for barangay officials and personnel.

Revilla also backed suggestions that the Department of the Interior and Local Government should not only orient barangay officials of their duties and responsibilities.

Being the only government unit mandated by the Constitution to exercise executive, legislative and judicial powers, they must also be guided on developing their income-generating acumen to help increase their annual revenue.