Council approves monthly release of brgy workers’ pay

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council yesterday approved the proposal to amend the city’s budget ordinance to allow the release of honorarium for barangay officials and employees on a monthly basis.

Councilors Alvin Arcilla and Michael Ralota, both allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK), said barangay employees want to receive their honoraria monthly instead of quarterly.

Yesterday’s approval of amendment on the budget ordinance means the barangay employees like the tanods, members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, Day Care teachers and garbage collectors will get their honorarium every second Tuesday of the month.

Councilor Jose Daluz III, the mayor’s ally in the City Council, did not object to the approval of the amendment but suggested that the City Treasurer’s Office shall be consulted first about the matter.

Rama earlier turned down the council’s request to have the honorarium released on a monthly basis.

He signed Executive Order No. 13-5 last March 27 expressing the mayor’s intent of having quarterly release.

A copy of the executive order was sent to the Office of the President in Malacañang.

Under the existing guideline, the city will provide monthly P5,000 to each of the barangay captains, P3,000 every month to each of the councilmen and P2,000 to each of the barangay secretaries and treasurers.

There are 80 barangay captains in Cebu City, 560 barangay councilmen, 80 SK chairmen and 160 barangay secretaries and treasurers.

“Monthly honorarium? I have no problem with that. The problem is will it be good to all the Cebuanos that the government is serving?,” Rama told reporters.

He emphasized that going paperless at the city government will make way for eventual monthly distribution of honorarium for barangay officials and teachers compensated by the city.

“Sayon kaayo na istoryahon. Lisud kaayo buhaton. Labi na wala pa ta naka paperless,” he added.

Asked if reports of officials not receiving honorarium for three months now, Rama neither denied nor confirmed it.

Earlier, three barangay councilmen filed a complaint against Sinsin barangay captain, treasurer and Rama for alleged failure to release honoraria and leave credits. — (FREEMAN)