Senatorial candidate Jejomar Binay on Monday said if elected, he will push for all barangay workers to become salaried government employees with full benefits.
“This time of the pandemic, we saw the importance of our barangay officials and workers. They deserve to get the benefits of a regular government employee,” Binay said.
Binay said that he had been pushing for barangay workers to become salaried government workers since he was Makati City mayor.
“Sadly, with the present policy, they receive no benefits when they retire,” he said.
Binay said like government employees, barangay officials, and workers should also get mandatory benefits, including membership in Pag-IBIG Fund, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
“Our barangay officials, health workers, tanod, street sweepers, and other barangay workers as public servants should be given that kind of benefits,” he added.
At present, barangay officials and workers only receive incentives or honorariums for their services.
Barangay chairpersons receive a minimum of P1,000 while Sangguniang Barangay members, the barangay treasurer, and the barangay secretary receive a minimum of P600. Barangay watchmen (tanods) and members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa receive honoraria authorized by law or barangay, municipal or city ordinance.
Barangay health workers, meanwhile, receive allowances and other benefits under a separate law. Binay served as Makati City mayor from 1986 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2010.