Barangay workers’ retirement benefit measure advances

The 24-member Senate has approved on second reading Senate Bill No. 12 seeking to grant retirement benefits for barangay employees and workers.

Once enacted into law, the measure mandates the national government to cough with 5.2 billion to pay for the retirement of the initial number of qualified barangay officials and workers, Sen. Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ R. Marcos Jr., author of the bill, said.

The measure provides a retirement pay of 100,000 for each qualified barangay chairman, 80,000 for each member of the Sangguniang Barangay, and 50,000 each for the barangay treasurer, secretary, barangay tanod, member of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, barangay health and day care workers.

Marcos, chairman of the Senate local government committee, lamented that while barangay officials and workers are serving in the front lines, delivering basic and other public services, they are only receiving measly benefits.

“Their dedication and contribution to public service without monthly salaries but with only honoraria, allowances or other emoluments deserves more than mere recognition,” he said.

“I am confident the Senate can approve this measure within the remaining days of our session,” Marcos assured.

The measure was approved on second reading in last Wednesday’s plenary session.

The Senate has three more days of plenary session next week to act on pending bills, including the passage of the measure on third and final reading, before going on a monthlong Christmas break starting Dec. 18.

Under the Marcos bill, a barangay official or worker must be at least 60 years old and with at least nine years of service to be eligible to receive the retirement benefit.

As a funding source, the measure proposed the creation of a Barangay Retirement Fund which shall be established through annual investments with an amount equivalent to one percent of the share of the national government in the Internal Revenue Allotment.