ANGELES CITY – Agreeing that it is time to recognize barangay (village) officials as frontliners of government service, a re-electionist city councilor here has filed a resolution supporting the proposed Magna Carta for Barangays.
Councilor Jesus “Jay” Sangil filed a resolution supporting Senate Bill No. 2097 or the Magna Carta for Barangays authored by Sen. Sonny Angara who is also running for reelection.
The proposed Magna Carta for Barangays aims to give fixed salaries and benefits to barangay officials like chairmen, kagawads or councilmen, treasurers, secretary and sangguniang kabataan (SK).
Sangil said under the Local Government Code, barangay offi cials only receive honorariums.
But with the Magna Carta for Barangays, a village chairman shall receive an amount equivalent to the salary of a sangguniang bayan or panlungsod member, a kagawad shall be given an amount equivalent to 80 percent of the councilor’s salary and the SK chair and barangay treasurer and secretary will get an equivalent to 75 percent
Under the bill, barangay officials will also get regular allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverages and retirement benefits that is now being extended to permanent government workers.
Sangil said, “the Magna Carta intends to help barangays perform their mandate of delivering basic services and facilities to their respective communities in the most efficient, responsive and sustainable manner.”
It also aims to provide communities with appropriate basic services and facilities such as regular supply of clean and potable water, public transportation, schools, health centers, and barangay halls in order to meet the requirement of their local populace.
The bill outlines measures that will help ensure barangays enjoy genuine and meaningful local autonomy and attain full development namely: automatic release of their share from national taxes, transfer of funds for maintenance of roads and bridges, mandatory share of barangay taxes, fees and other charges and priority in employment.
Sangil also said the proposed legislative measure would reflect on the professional efficiency of the village workers.
