LC OKs more benefits, incentives for brgy tanods

By Dominic C. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)

Laoag City—All brgy tanods in this are expected to receive additional benefits, Laoag City councilor Roger John Fariñas announced after they approved an ordinance calling for those.

Fariñas, who sponsored the measure, said Section 393 of the Local Government Code of 1991 (LGC) states that barangay officials, including barangay tanods and members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, shall receive honoraria, allowances, and such other emoluments as may be authorized by law or barangay, municipal, or city ordinance.

He also said that Chapter 4, Section 393 (d), of the LGC, provides, that, “All duly appointed members of the barangay tanod brigades or their equivalent, which number shall not be more than twenty (20) in each barangay, shall be granted insurance or other benefits during their incumbency, chargeable to the barangay of the city or municipal government to which the barangay belongs’’.

Section 16 of the LGC further provides that every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.

Relative to this, Fariñas said the local government unit of Laoag acknowledges the important role, dedication, performance, and perseverance of the brgy.  tanod members who serve as force multipliers of the uniformed personnel and are also considered as frontline workers in ensuring peace, safety, and order, providing traffic assistance and in combating illegal drugs in the city.

The Ilocos Times learned that the present honoraria of barangay tanod in the city is ranges from PHP1,000 to PHP2,000 per month and it is not compensable to their sacrifices and nature of work and sometimes their lives is put in danger during the performance of their duties.

As this developed, the 12^th Sanggunian, through an ordinance, has grant additional incentives and allowances to all duly appointed barangay tanods to augment their honoraria that would uplift their moral and eagerness to perform better their duties and responsibilities.

In relation to this, the city government also recently approved an ordinance providing free basic medical examination every year through the Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) and/or the office of the City Health Office (CHO) for active and in-service elected and appointed barangay officials of the 80 barangays of the city, a week before or a week after of their birthday as a way of recognizing the vital role of the barangay as the primary implementing unit of the government.