Brgy Umapad workers get partial salary

CEBU, Philippines — The 132 barangay workers in Umapad, Mandaue City, have finally received their monthly honoraria for the months of September to December.

Umapad Barangay Captain Reb Cortes said that the barangay workers, including tanods, Clean and Green personnel, lupon members, and drivers, among others, received their salaries in the second week of December.

“Malipayon sila nga nakadawat sa ilahang four months nga sweldo kay at least naa silay na celebrate ug nagasto pag Pasko,” Cortes said.

The barangay captain said that the workers requested to be paid at least four months' worth of salaries so they could have something to prepare for Noche Buena and celebrate Christmas.

However, Cortes said that the honoraria for services rendered from January to August have yet to be settled with the barangay council.

To recall, salaries of the barangay employees were on hold for almost a year after the barangay’s finance committee chairperson refused to sign the payroll.

Councilwoman Libertine Lumapas previously claimed that she refused to sign the payroll from January until August 2024 because the appointment of the employees didn’t undergo concurrence or approval by the majority of Umapad Barangay Council.

Aside from lacking concurrence, Lumapas said that the employees also lack supporting documents, and their Daily Time Record doesn’t have the barangay captain’s signature.

In accordance with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-7’s legal opinion, Cortes presented all of his appointees during the barangay’s regular sessions from August to September. The employees were concurred by the majority of the council on September 13, 2024.

However, Cortes believed that workers whose appointments fall under Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) do not require approval from the barangay council.

In an interview yesterday, Cortes said they will still discuss in the session whether the services rendered by the workers from January to August without concurrence should be placed under account payables, as they may receive a legal opinion from DILG.

“Kung unsay mga decision, pwede pa namo ma sweldo ngadto sa mga trabahante,” said Cortes.

The workers receive P6,000 per month for their work.

Bernard Intia, chief barangay tanod, said that although the amount they received was still lacking, it was a big help in paying off their debts and purchasing their necessities.

“Since January hantod karon upat raman ka buwan among nadawat bisan tuod og sakit pero sige nalang at least nakabayad-bayad gyud mi sa among mga utang pero dili gyud kompleto tawn,” said Initia.

Intia hopes that they will eventually receive their salaries for the services they rendered from January to August.

The tanod shared that when he received his salary, he used it to pay off debts, cover household expenses, and prepare for Noche Buena during Christmas. Intia, as the chief, earns a monthly salary of P7,500.

Since they serve 24/7 in the barangay, Intia hopes they will be compensated for the eight months of service and hard work they have rendered.

“Naglaom pa tawn nga unta madawat pa tawn to namo among January to August nga gihagoan,” said Intia.

Three employees excluded

While the 132 employees were delighted to receive their four-month salaries, three others who have continued to render their services to date have not received any compensation, as the council did not concur with their appointments last September, unlike the others.

Cortes said the three workers still continue to work at Barangay Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) desk, Solid Waste Management, and Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

“Luoy kaayo sa tanan kay active kaayo na sila, buntag, gabie, usahay kadlawn tawgon na sila,” said Cortes.

Cortes said the council is not willing to include them for concurrence; however, they did not specify the reason why they are being excluded.

The barangay captain said he had no choice but to agree to the council's decision to remove the three employees, rather than have the 132 employees be affected.

Cortes, however, is grateful to the three employees as they have continued working for the barangay to this day, despite not being paid for 12 months.

“Pasalamat lang sad ko sa tulo ka trabahante nisugot ra pod sila, mukumbati gyud sila,” said Cortes.

Helen Sungahid, VAWC desk head, said she does not know the reason why they were not included in the concurrence.

“Nag expect ko nga as barangay employee entitled gyud ko nga mudawat (og sweldo),” said Sungahid.

Sungahid, who cried during an interview with media members yesterday, said she wished the council had called her so she could understand the reason why they were not included in the concurrence.

“Unta gipatawag ko, kay ang akong trabaho ako mang gibuhat kutob sa akong mahimo adlaw-gabie nag serbisyo ko labi na kung naay violence sa kababaenhan ug kabataan,” she said.

The VAWC desk head said she is frustrated with what happened, especially since they were not told the reason why they were not included.

“Sakit palandungon nga paglusot sa ilang desisyon, wala ko naapil, tulo mi, sakit gyud,” Sungahid said.

She wished that she had been treated the same as the other workers who have already received their salaries for four months.

She said that, despite their rendered service 24/7, the three of them have been waiting in vain.

“Bisan natulog nako, mubangon gyud ko kay akoang serbisyo kinahanglan sa tao pero mao ra wala koy na ani,” Sungahid said while crying.

Sungahid, however, expressed her gratitude to Cortes for going out of his way to provide salaries from his own pocket, ensuring that both she and the 132 barangay employees were paid.

“Bilib ko ni kap kay nibati gyud siya namo gani personally iyang kwarta, iya ming tagaan,” said Sungahid. — FPL (CEBU NEWS)