CEBU, Philippines - The Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy Partylist Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr. vows to revive the bill previously filed seeking to fix the salary of barangay officials instead of a mere honoraria.
Alcover, who is confident that ANAD will be reelected, said that he was informed that in previous congress a number of bills fixing the salary of barangay officials were filed but failed to pass.
He said that during the campaign period several barangay officials asked him to prioritize the bill.
Alcover said that some barangay captains and councilmen are working in different companies citing their honorarium cannot answer their needs. Worst, some officials even sideline themselves as driver of “habal-habal” or motorcycle for hire.
“Lisud kaayo hunahunaon nga ang atong mga opisyal sa barangay kinahanglan pa nga mangita ug laing trabaho aron matubag ang ilang mga panginahanglanon,” said Alcover.
Alcover said barangay captains and other officials of the barangay play an important role not only in maintaining peace and order but in economic development of the barangay as well.
Honoraria for the barangay officials are dependent on the barangay’s Internal Revenue Allotment. According to Alcover, this is unfair because barangays in the cities have higher IRA compared to those in the towns.
“Gisaad nato ngadto sa mga opisyal sa barangay nga mutabang kita -kanila, mao nga dili gayud nato sila pakyason,” said Alcover. — THE FREEMAN