Tingog party-list Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre on Sunday said the increase in allowances of barangay officials and the grant of honoraria and benefits to barangay workers and watchmen should be prioritized to professionalize the recruitment in local government units.
They filed House Bill No. 2349 seeking to raise the allowances of village officials, grant honoraria and other benefits to the workers, and give watchmen who have served for at least one year compensation and benefits.
“Under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, barangay officials are compensated in the form of honorarium at an amount not less than P1,000 per month for the Punong Barangay and P600 per month for each Sangguniang Barangay member, Barangay Treasurer and Barangay Secretary,” they said.
“As the Act was enacted decades ago, such compensations are no longer in accordance with the regional minimum wage level. Further, excluded therein are barangay tanods despite the services they render to their constituents,” they added.
The proposed measure shall provide a compensation package commensurate with the work and services the barangay officials extend to their constituents and to encourage and professionalize the recruitment of barangay officials.
HB 2349 bats to amend Section 393 of the Local Government Code by increasing the minimum honoraria or allowances that could be given to barangay officials, including barangay watchmen and members of Lupong Tagapamayapa.
It shall increase the minimum allowance of Punong Barangay from P1,000 to P3,500 per month, and the P600 allowance of Sangguniang Barangay members, barangay treasurer, secretary and watchmen to be increased to P2,500 per month.
HB 2349 is pending with the House committee on local government.