Angara bats for fixed salaries for barangay execs
Published Jul 14, 2019 02:29 pm
By Hannah Torregoza
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara is pushing for the passage of the bill that would ensure fixed salaries and benefits for village workers.
Sen. Sonny Angara
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) Angara has re-filed Senate Bill No. 136 or the proposed Magna Carta for Barangays that seeks to ensure barangay (village) officials and employees would be receiving a salary and additional benefits that are commensurate to the roles that they play. The senator said it is high time village-based workers should be given more attention by the national government as the country’s basic political unit and as the base of the economy. “Tuwing may problema, ang barangay ang unang tinatakbuhan ng tao para humingi ng tulong. Sila ang unang rumeresponde sa mga krisis pero sila ang huli lagi pagdating sa mga benepisyo (Each time there is a problem, village officials are the ones people run to for help. They are the first responders in a crisis, but they lag behind in terms of benefits),” Angara said. Angara said the passage of the bill into law would help provide the officials of barangays better pay and benefits and greater local autonomy. Under the bill, barangay officials would be treated as regular government employees. Aside from receiving fixed salaries, they will also be entitled to allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement, and other fringe benefits. “Mahalaga ang trabahong ginagampanan ng ating mga barangay kaya dapat lang na makatanggap sila ng angkop na benepisyo, (They play a very important role so it is only fitting that they receive sufficient benefits),” Angara said. The punong barangay or village captain, would be entitled to the salary being received by a Sangguniang Bayan or municipal council member in his or her city or municipality. An amount equivalent to 80 percent of the salary of a Sanggguniang Bayan member would be received by the six sangguniang barangay members. Also under the bill, the Kabataang Barangay (youth village) chairman, barangay secretary and barangay treasurer, will get an amount equivalent to 75 percent of the salary of a Sangguniang Bayan member. The lawmaker lamented that barangay officials do not receive fixed salaries and are only entitled to honoraria and other allowances. “We cannot overemphasize the importance of the barangay in the lives of every household. Before any matter goes up to the Mayor or the courts, it is the barangay that is tasked to resolve this,” he said. “Panahon na para palakasin natin ang ating mga barangay sa pamamagitan nitong Magna Carta for Barangays (It is high time we strengthen our barangays through the passage of the Magna Carta for Barangays),” Angara stressed. Aside from addressing the salaries of the barangay officials, the bill also outlines the basic priorities in the barangay, namely maintaining a regular supply of clean and potable water; providing public transportation for its constituents; and the establishment of at least one elementary school, health center, and barangay hall within its jurisdiction. To ensure that villages enjoy local autonomy as envisioned by the Local Government Code of the Philippines, Angara said the National Treasury should automatically remit to the barangays their just share from national taxes at the end of every calendar year. He said that under the bill, funds intended for the maintenance of barangay roads, bridges and other infrastructure would go directly to the general fund of the barangays for disposition by its officials. Angara added that the total of 25 percent of all taxes collected on real property taxes located within the barangay will go to barangay funds, while another 10 percent from all other forms of taxes, fees, penalties and charges collected from persons and establishments within the barangay will also go to the barangays. Under the proposed law, the barangays would be entitled to an equitable share of the proceeds derived from the exploitation, development, and utilization of natural wealth within its territory. It is also mandated to sponsor at least one scholarship grant every year leading to any bachelor degree for bona fide residents.
Sen. Sonny Angara(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) Angara has re-filed Senate Bill No. 136 or the proposed Magna Carta for Barangays that seeks to ensure barangay (village) officials and employees would be receiving a salary and additional benefits that are commensurate to the roles that they play. The senator said it is high time village-based workers should be given more attention by the national government as the country’s basic political unit and as the base of the economy. “Tuwing may problema, ang barangay ang unang tinatakbuhan ng tao para humingi ng tulong. Sila ang unang rumeresponde sa mga krisis pero sila ang huli lagi pagdating sa mga benepisyo (Each time there is a problem, village officials are the ones people run to for help. They are the first responders in a crisis, but they lag behind in terms of benefits),” Angara said. Angara said the passage of the bill into law would help provide the officials of barangays better pay and benefits and greater local autonomy. Under the bill, barangay officials would be treated as regular government employees. Aside from receiving fixed salaries, they will also be entitled to allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement, and other fringe benefits. “Mahalaga ang trabahong ginagampanan ng ating mga barangay kaya dapat lang na makatanggap sila ng angkop na benepisyo, (They play a very important role so it is only fitting that they receive sufficient benefits),” Angara said. The punong barangay or village captain, would be entitled to the salary being received by a Sangguniang Bayan or municipal council member in his or her city or municipality. An amount equivalent to 80 percent of the salary of a Sanggguniang Bayan member would be received by the six sangguniang barangay members. Also under the bill, the Kabataang Barangay (youth village) chairman, barangay secretary and barangay treasurer, will get an amount equivalent to 75 percent of the salary of a Sangguniang Bayan member. The lawmaker lamented that barangay officials do not receive fixed salaries and are only entitled to honoraria and other allowances. “We cannot overemphasize the importance of the barangay in the lives of every household. Before any matter goes up to the Mayor or the courts, it is the barangay that is tasked to resolve this,” he said. “Panahon na para palakasin natin ang ating mga barangay sa pamamagitan nitong Magna Carta for Barangays (It is high time we strengthen our barangays through the passage of the Magna Carta for Barangays),” Angara stressed. Aside from addressing the salaries of the barangay officials, the bill also outlines the basic priorities in the barangay, namely maintaining a regular supply of clean and potable water; providing public transportation for its constituents; and the establishment of at least one elementary school, health center, and barangay hall within its jurisdiction. To ensure that villages enjoy local autonomy as envisioned by the Local Government Code of the Philippines, Angara said the National Treasury should automatically remit to the barangays their just share from national taxes at the end of every calendar year. He said that under the bill, funds intended for the maintenance of barangay roads, bridges and other infrastructure would go directly to the general fund of the barangays for disposition by its officials. Angara added that the total of 25 percent of all taxes collected on real property taxes located within the barangay will go to barangay funds, while another 10 percent from all other forms of taxes, fees, penalties and charges collected from persons and establishments within the barangay will also go to the barangays. Under the proposed law, the barangays would be entitled to an equitable share of the proceeds derived from the exploitation, development, and utilization of natural wealth within its territory. It is also mandated to sponsor at least one scholarship grant every year leading to any bachelor degree for bona fide residents.