Laoag council backs BBM’s barangay officials, workers’ retirement benefits bill

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—The Sangguniang Panlungsod here unanimously passed a resolution expressing their support to a senate bill filed by Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The senate bill aims to grant retirement benefits to all barangay officials, including tanods, members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, barangay health workers and barangay day-care center workers.

Laoag councilor Shirley O. Sin read to the body the explanatory note of Mr. Marcos where he stated that the barangay officials and workers are the front liners in the delivery of basic and other public services to the Filipino peoples.

As embodied in the Local Government Code of 1991 as amended particularly under Section 384 which states “The Barangay serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects and activities in the community, and as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed, crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled”.    

Yet, the officials and workers who are behind the active operation of the affairs of the barangays are left with minimal benefits which are found to be ironic given the endless recognition by the government of their indispensable role in the delivery of basic services and in nation building, the note said.

According to Mr. Marcos, the bill seeks to provide retirement benefits to qualified punong barangay, members of the Sangguniang Barangay, barangay treasurer, barangay secretary, tanods, BHWs, and DCWs which their dedication and contribution to the public service without monthly salaries but with only honoraria, allowances and other emoluments deserves more than mere recognition.

Based on the proposed bill, the punong barangay and the members of the Sangguniang Barangay shall receive a retirement benefits of P100,000 and P80,000 respectively while the others shall receive P50,000.

All these barangay officials are entitled to receive the retirement benefits provided that he/she shall be at least 60 year old and with at least nine years of service.

However, if any such official or worker who dies or becomes permanently incapacitated while in the performance of his/her duty, he/she shall be entitled to the benefit irrespective of his/her age and number of years in service.

With the proposed Bill, there will be a need for the creation of a Barangay Retirement Fund (BRF) which shall be used to fund the this program and the amount equivalent of 1 percent of the share of the national government under Section 284 of the LGC of 1991, as amended, shall be used for this purpose which the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will administer and ensure the appropriate disbursement of the fund.

The Department of Budget and management (DBM) in accordance with the DILG are tasked to issue the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation of this Act.

Relative to this, Ms. Sin who sponsored the resolution, said she also passed a measure during her second term as a city councilor urging the Congress of the Philippines to enact a law that will provide gratuity to barangay officials.

Ms. Sin who also became a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, said she also sponsored a resolution urging the GSIS to establish, administer and appropriate system for the barangay officials and workers to enjoy insurance coverage and which is now being implemented.

Laoag Liga ng mga Barangay president and Laoag council ex-officio member Mary Michelle Louise “Mikee” V. Mikee Fariñas also expressed her support for the said measure giving additional benefits to her fellow barangay officials and workers.