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| League of Barangays of the Philippines (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
House Bill 55, authored principally Rep. Alfredo "Albee" Benitez (3rd District, Negros Occidental), will cover all Barangay Officials, barangay tanods, members of the Lupon Tagapamayapa, health workers and day care workers.
"Barangay workers are in the frontline of government services in the grassroots. They deliver the much needed basic social services to the people and maintain peace and order," Benitez said.
Benitez said given the limited resources of government, these Barangay front liners also receive the least compensation.
"However, this reality has not discouraged some our fellow Filipinos to serve their respective barangays and some have even stayed in barangay work for many years," Benitez stressed.
The bill seeks to amend Sections 393 of Republic Act 7160 or "The Local Government Code of 1991."
Under the measure, a Barangay Retirement Fund (BRF) is created which shall be used to fund the retirement of Barangays officials and workers. The amount equivalent to (1%) of the share of the national government under Section 284 of the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended shall be used for this purpose.
All barangay officials, including barangay tanods and members of the lupong tagapamayapa,barangay health workers and day care workers, shall be entitled to a lump sum retirement pay equivalent to 1 year honorarium, but not to exceed P100,000.00, to be taken from the Barangay Retirement Fund, provided the retiree is at least 60 years of age with a minimum of nine years in service at the time of retirement.
Under the current Local Government Code, barangay officials, including tanods and members of the Lupon are only entitled to honoraria, allowances and other emoluments authorized by law or ordinance.
