THE LOCAL Government Code of 1991 directs the barangay government unit to serve as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities in the community, and as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed, crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled. The country has been repeatedly witness to the selfless service of barangay officials and personnel in the performance of the above said responsibilities. This service was again exemplified and dramatically shown in the leading role that our barangay leaders, staff and volunteers exhibited as the national government’s basic partner in the implementation of the policies, rules and regulations to control the effects of the COVIDl9 pandemic, and in primarily helping to make these acceptable to our countrymen, both at the community level. The barangay organization also effectively served to support the PNP and AFP in controlling movements between barangay boundaries, one of the solutions that directly helped in minimizing the spread of the COVIDl9 infection. Moreover, and despite the danger to their own health, barangay personnel assisted in the monitoring and helped in identifying the seriously COVID19 afflicted in their barangays, and to push the objective to completion, in many cases they promptly brought them to hospitals and identified quarantine facilities.
Despite the extensive range of duties and responsibilities that Punong Barangays and other barangay officials perform, they only receive monthly honoraria instead of fixed monthly salaries, with some added minimal benefit. They are not entitled to the same employment benefits and privileges that other local government officials enjoy. In addition, there is no commensurate remuneration for the dangers they assume during times such as the extended COVID19 challenge that the country is experiencing, and likewise no clear and concomitant health benefits they can expect when they themselves get afflicted by the illnesses they help to control.
As the primary facilitators of government projects and programs on the ground and the frontline providers of the government services, it is just worthy that the national government grant them just and humane commensurate compensation and benefits to bolster morale and promote good governance and justice. Thus, Senator Manny Pacquiao filed Senate Bill No. 1956 seeking to provide regularization, salary standardization, and additional benefits that will supplement those already provided in existing laws, rules and regulations, in favor of all appointed and elected barangay officials. This bill also proposes that the Punong Barangay, members of the Sangguniang Barangay, the Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson, the Barangay Secretary, and Barangay Treasurer in all barangays be declared as regular government employees of the city and municipal governments, and as such entitled to fixed salaries, allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and such other incentives and fringe benefits which, under Civil Service laws, rules and regulations, a regular government employee is entitled.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall develop a standardized Position Classification and Compensation Scheme for Barangay Officials, Personnel, and Volunteer Workers, taking into consideration their educational qualification, nature of work intended to be performed, and the financial capability of their respective barangays, and subject to the minimum qualification standards and guidelines to be prescribed by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Such position classification and compensation scheme shall conform with the following guidelines: (1) The Position Classification and Compensation Scheme for Barangay Officials and Personnel shall comprise three salary grades, namely: a. Barangay Salary Grade I for barangay appointive officials as already provided by law, and other barangay personnel the positions of which are provided for by ordinance of the corresponding barangay; b. Barangay Salary Grade II for barangay elective officials in the Sangguniang Kabataan and Sangguniang Barangay with the exception of the Punong Barangay, and c. Barangay Salary Grade III for Punong Barangay. (2) The Minimum Monthly Salary for the salary grades for barangay officials and personnel shall be as follows: a. Barangay Salary Grade I — Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P15,000) b. Barangay Salary Grade II -Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P25,000) c. Barangay Salary Grade III — Thirty Five Thousand Pesos (P35,000), and (3) As regularized government employees, said barangay officials and personnel shall likewise be entitled to 13th month pay, a Christmas bonus of P3,000.00, and other bonuses as may be provided by law.
As the country proceeds to the establishment of the new normal during the continuance of the effect of the COVID19 pandemic in the country and of the management thereof by the IATF, and during similar situations in the future as may be declared by the national government, and in recognition of the fact that barangay officials and personnel shall have key responsibilities in the ground strategy to implement and maintain COVID19 and future emergency control mechanisms, the barangay officials and personnel shall be granted a Special Risk Allowance (SRA) the adequacy of amount and continuance of period of entitlement of which shall be determined by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
In addition to the benefits and entitlements for barangay officials and personnel, the DILG shall additionally provide quarterly rice allocations for barangay officials and personnel. In addition to benefits and entitlements, barangay volunteers and other barangay workers that are not covered shall be entitled to temporary honoraria and other benefits, incentives or allowances as may be determined and appropriated for by their respective barangays, municipalities, cities or provinces.