By Zaldy Comanda
BAGUIO CITY – The city council here has approved, on first reading, an ordinance that will set aside funds for the insurance of front liners in the city’s 128 barangays.
The ordinance stated the need for the city government to apportion part of its available funds to pay for the insurance premiums of the working front liners in the city’s barangays in the light of the risks involved in the performance of their duties and responsibilities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the city.
The funds for the insurance premiums will be taken from the P150 million that was set aside under Ordinance No. 39, series of 2020, to fund programs, projects and activities to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
According to the new measure, the city councils recognize that barangay officials, including the members of the barangay tanods, brigades, service workers and other service units have been at the forefront to provide basic health services to the residents of the city in the ongoing aggressive fight against the spread of the deadly virus.
Administrative Order (AO) No. 270 entitled ‘Prescribing the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the City Government code of 1991’ provides that the local legislative bodies shall provide for group insurance or additional insurance coverage for barangay officials, including members of barangay tanod brigades and other units, with public or private insurance companies when finances of the city or municipality allow said coverage.
The payment of the insurance premiums of front liners in the city’s barangays is part of the effort of the city government to provide them with non-cash benefits that could be granted them under existing laws, rules and regulations to motivate and inspire them to continue working hard to avert the spread of the illness.
The council said that paying the insurance premiums of front liners in the city’s barangays will greatly help in easing the burden of paying their insurance so they can concentrate their efforts in providing quality services to the residents whom they are mandated to serve.