Cebu City Council backs Magna Carta for Barangay Act

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has expressed its support to Senate Bill No. 391 or the "Magna Carta for Barangay Act of 2019", which was filed by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.

A resolution sponsored by Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos was recently approved by the council.

De los Santos said the Senate Bill seeks to further strengthen the barangays, recognizing their critical role as the country's basic political unit and frontliner in the delivery of government services.

She said the bill recognizes that the barangay and its officials are immediate providers of frontline services, describing barangay officials as the government's frontliners that are first to respond, first to provide, and first to serve.

One significant provision of the proposed measure would be that the Punong Barangay, members of the Sangguniang Barangay, the Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson, the Barangay Secretary and the Barangay Treasurer as well will now be treated as regular government employees who will be entitled to salaries, emoluments, allowances, such as hazard pay, representation and transportation

allowance, 13th month pay and other benefits.

Per Senate Bill No. 391, the need to strengthen the barangay as an instrument of genuine and meaningful reform is imperative.

The bill also delegates to the sangguniang barangay the determination of the proper number of barangay tanods needed in their respective barangays. — FPL (FREEMAN)