A party-list lawmaker on Sunday pushed for the passage of a bill granting bigger honorarium and Christmas bonus for barangay officials and employees whose services have proven valuable amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now more than ever, we must give our barangay workers better compensation in recognition of their vital role as frontline service providers as we see it today when the country is facing the worst public health crisis of this generation,” Deputy Majority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera said.
“If we cannot afford to give them fixed salary, we might as well give them higher honorarium and Christmas bonus as a token of our appreciation for their sacrifices in serving the public, especially in these trying times,” she added.
Herrera earlier filed House Bill (HB) 5846 proposing to increase the honorarium and Christmas incentives of barangay officials, including barangay tanod (watchman) and members of lupong tagapamayapa (pacification committee) by amending a provision in the 29-year-old Local Government Code (LGC).
Under the LGC—which has remained relatively unchanged since its enactment in 1991—barangay officials should only receive honorariums, and not salaries.
At present, a barangay chairman gets an honorarium of at least P1,000 a month, while the councilor, treasurer and secretary each receive P600. However, these amounts could be adjusted according to the availability of funds.
In her bill, Herrera proposes a minimum of P10,000 in monthly honorarium for barangay chairman; P8,000 for councilors, treasurer and secretary; and P5,000 for watchmen and members of lupong tagapamayapa.
Herrera also seeks a Christmas bonus of P3,000 for each barangay worker. She also wants to provide them with greater medical benefits, insurance coverage, free tuition for their children at state universities and colleges, among others.
The bill is pending with the House Committee on Local Government.
In pushing for higher cash incentives for barangay workers, Herrera noted that they currently receive small compensation that are inadequate for the needs of their families.
“They (barangay workers) do not enjoy much benefits from performing their mandate of addressing day-to-day issues of their communities,” Herrera said.
“This measure (HB 5846) recognizes the contribution of barangay officials and employees to the holistic and effective governance in the country. We must ensure the welfare of the public by empowering our barangay workers who are at the forefront of government service,” she added.