Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said on Sunday, December 1, the Office of the President (OP) will give PhP3,000 as Christmas incentives to elected barangay officials, namely barangay captains, kagawads, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons, and Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) to show appreciation for their hard work in their respective communities pending the passage of a measure providing for additional compensation for them.
“Sinuggest ko po ‘yan kay Pangulong Duterte para mapasaya ang ating mga barangay officials na walang sawang nagseserbisyo sa kanilang mga komunidad,” said Go.
“Gumagawa po kami ng paraan ni Pangulong Duterte na mabigyan man lang kayo ng Christmas incentives o anuman po na pwede ninyong magamit ngayong pasko para po sa mga elected barangay officials,” he added.
The senator, who has consistently pursued measures to promote the welfare of barangay officials, is hoping that this would provide incentives for their untiring service as providers of frontline services to the community while waiting for the passage of Senate Bill (SB) No. 391 or the “Barangay Services Compensation Act” which is still being deliberated in the Senate Committee on Local Government.
Originally known as the “Magna Carta for Barangays Act of 2019” filed by Senator Go on July this year, SB 391 is a consolidated version of all other related bills filed in the Senate which aim to provide barangay officials additional compensation similarly accorded to a regular government employee as well as other benefits to promote their welfare in return for the service they render to their respective communities.
As the basic unit of governance in the country, the senator has always been vocal about promoting the welfare of barangay officials in return for their critical role they play in their respective communities.
“The barangay serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities in our communities,” he said during a Senate committee hearing.
“It is through our barangays that government programs and services reach our people. It is through our barangays that our policies, plans, and projects aimed at improving our country materialize. Most importantly, it is in our barangays that we hone dutiful citizens who will become the future builders of our nation,” he added.
The senator also said that it is high time that the hard work and efforts of barangay officials are recognized.
“Our barangays are not on autopilot. They are manned by these hard-working and dedicated individuals who, despite their seemingly thankless job, are committed to ensuring that our barangays serve the purpose they are intended for,” he said.