Senator Loren Legarda said it was high time to provide full-time benefits to barangay officials, lamenting that mere honoraria might not be adequate for them.
Legarda, who filed Senate Bill No. 2786, or the Regularization of Barangay Officials Act, remarked that the lack of financial stability of barangay officials might cause them financial stress, which may lead to ineffective delivery of government services.
“We want our barangay officials to receive the same full benefits that other government workers enjoy, giving them the peace of mind they deserve — especially after serving their communities,” said Legarda.
“The most basic unit of local government must also be incentivized for their efforts for their public service, as they usually are the most tangible persons of the State many residents see,” she added.
Under the proposed measure, the barangay captain, sangguniang barangay members, sangguniang kabataan (SK) chairperson, barangay secretary, and the barangay treasurer will now be considered as regular government employees.
Moreover, they will be entitled to fixed salaries, allowances, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG coverage, on top of other fringe benefits, which, under Civil Service law, rules and regulations, a regular government employee may be entitled to.
Under Section 4 of the bill, the salary of the barangay captain will be equivalent to a city/municipal councilor; sangguniang barangay members with 80% of the captain’s salary; and 75% for the SK chairperson, barangay secretary, and treasurer.
“With the passage of this bill, we recognize that barangay officials deserve recognition for their significant role in community development and peacekeeping,” remarked the four-term senator.
“Their dedication to public service deserves fair and regular compensation,” she furthered.