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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Go emphasizes significance of empowering barangays

Go emphasizes significance of empowering barangays

Published Jan 28, 2023 11:08 am

Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go has emphasized the significance of empowering barangays as the country's fundamental unit of governance in order to bring government closer to the populace for more efficient public service delivery.

Go, chairman of the Senate Health and Sports Committees, stressed further the need to strengthen collaboration between the national government and the barangay units to ensure that no Filipino is left behind in development.

During the recent General Membership Assembly of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas held at Holiday Inn Newport, Pasay City, Go underscored the significant role that barangay officials play in their respective communities, highlighting the necessity of empowering them to ensure that they can continue to provide efficient access to government services for the people they represent.

‘’I'm here to support you in my own small capacity. Tutulong po ako sa ating mga barangay officials, sa inyo sa Liga ng Barangay (I am here to help you barangay officials and the League of Barangays),” said Go in his message during the event.

In 2019, former president Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11462, which sets the next barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections from the second Monday of May 2020 to Dec. 5, 2022, and then on the first Monday of December 2025 and every three years thereafter.

The law extends the term of the current barangay and SK officials from two years to four years and a half. Go was one of the authors of the measure.

In 2022, Go likewise supported the postponement of the barangay and SK elections to 2023.

Among the reasons cited for the postponement of the elections include allocating the funds for the polls to the Covid-19 response instead, giving teachers time to recover following the recent national elections, and avoiding two “divisive” polls in a year.

Go also sought to recognize the efforts of barangay officials by providing them with similar benefits given to regular government employees.

This prompted him to file Senate Bill (SB) No.197 which, if enacted, would provide a Magna Carta for Barangays.

He also filed SB No. 427, which seeks to mandate the provision of allowances and incentives to barangay health workers.

Under the SB No.197, barangay officials will be treated as regular government employees.

The Punong Barangay, members of the Sangguniang Barangay, the SK chairperson, the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer will be entitled to salaries, emoluments, allowances such as hazard pay, representation and transportation allowance, 13th month pay and other benefits that regular government employees enjoy.

The Sangguniang Barangay will also be given the authority to determine the appropriate number of barangay tanods needed with permanent status during the administration of the Sangguniang Barangay which appointed them. They will likewise be entitled to honoraria, allowances and other benefits.

Furthermore, if the measure is passed into law, all barangays will enjoy basic priorities, such as construction of at least a facility for drawing drinking water for every 1,000 residents; public transportation by asking government agencies to require public utility companies to provide minimum means of transportation; and at least a kindergarten, an elementary school for every barangay, and a high school for every five kilometers from the barangay center; a health center and a barangay hall.

Their share from various taxes shall also be directly released to them without need for further action. All public funds from the National Treasury for the maintenance of barangay roads and bridges and similar construction works should also be transferred to the barangays’ general fund.

SB No.427, on the other hand, seeks to provide a monthly allowance of PhP3,000 to all barangay health workers. They will also be entitled to benefits and privileges and security of tenure.

The bill proposes to mandate the appointment of at least two BHWs per barangay. More may be appointed based on the number of households in the barangay and upon the recommendation of the Department of Health as long as the number of BHWs will not exceed 1 percent of the population of the barangay.

Other benefits and privileges enumerated in the bill include leave benefits, Civil Service Eligibility, Christmas bonus, among others. BHWs will also be entitled to GSIS, PhilHealth and PAG-IBIG benefits.

Go reiterated that barangay officials bear a heavy responsibility to help spur development in their locality so they should be provided with compensation comparable with the pay rate of regular government employees.

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