Suarez: LP senators ‘killed’ benefits for barangay execs

MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party (LP) senators have “killed” a vital legislation that seeks to grant barangay officials retirement and other benefits, House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said yesterday.

Suarez said the opposition bloc in the House has been advocating the passage of the measure since 2010 and Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  had been pushing its approval in plenary in the Senate before Congress adjourned last Feb. 8 for the campaign period but the bill was blocked by Sen. Franklin Drilon.

The House of Representatives last October approved on third and final reading the measure providing lump sum retirement pay for barangay officials, amending Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991.

Under the bill authored by Suarez, the officials would also be given death benefits under certain conditions.

“I cannot hide my extreme disappointment that a mere P75,000 lump sum (retirement) pay should be denied to these barangay officials and volunteers,” Suarez told reporters.