Guingona: I’m for brgy execs’ term extension

CEBU, Philippines - Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona, who was among the guest speakers of the Liga ng mga Barangay (Caraga Region) meeting held in Cebu, yesterday told those in attendance he is supporting the call to extend the term limit of barangay officials.

“Kay kanang three years mubo ra gyud kaayo na. Wa pa ka ka-arangkada sa imong mga programa og proyekto kay election na sad. So, angayan gyud nga patas-an ang termino sa atong mga barangay officials,” said Guingona, who is seeking re-election in the upcoming 2016 local and national elections.

In the same gathering, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he was optimistic that his proposal to give retirement benefits to barangay officials and volunteers workers would become a law before the year ends.

The bill, which seeks to extend barangay officials’ term from three years to five years, with a chance for re-election for one more consecutive term, is still pending at the Senate.

The proposal seeks to provide retirement benefits to qualified barangay captains, members of the Sangguniang Barangay, barangay treasurer, barangay secretary, barangay tanod, members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, barangay health workers, and barangay day care workers.

The measure, Marcos said, is a manifestation of the government acknowledging the invaluable contribution of the barangay officials and workers to public service.

He said the proposed measure covers retiring officials, who should be at least 60 years old with a minimum of nine years in service, at the time of retirement.

Marcos said that if such barangay official dies or becomes permanently incapacitated in the performance of his or her duty, he shall be entitled to the benefit regardless of his age and number of years in service.

Under the proposed measure, the retirement benefit for barangay captain is P100,000; P80,000 for Sangguniang Barangay members; and P50,000 for barangay secretary, treasurer, tanod, lupon tagapamayapa, health worker and day care worker.

On the other hand, Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares told the same Liga ng mga Barangay gathering, that he has proposed a bill that seeks to increase the pension of Social Security and Services pensioners by P2,000.

He claimed that his proposal has the support of majority of the senators.  “I am optimistic that this bill will be passed into law before October of this year,” Colmenares said. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/RHM (FREEMAN)