Reforms are being mulled for the barangays with the new proposed measures coming from the 1st District Congressman of Bohol.
Bills prescribing the honoraria of barangay officials at minimum wage level as well as professionalizing the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer positions, are authored by Cong. Edgar Chatto and now being tackled by the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Local Governance Committee in the House of Representatives.
House Bill 3221 prescribes the honoraria and allowances of barangay officials at minimum wage level. At the same time, the measure calls for the provision of honoraria for Punong Barangay based on the prevailing minimum wage plus a premium of 20%.
Chatto said the measure aims to provide a compensation package commensurate to the services rendered by barangay officials.
“While the barangay is at the lowest level of governance, their powers, duties and functions are far from simple. Unlike most public officials, barangay officials are expected to perform their functions 24/7,” he stated.
The Local Government Code of 1991 institutionalized the barangay as the most basic political unit in the country.
The barangay officials can enforce all laws and ordinances including pollution control and protection of the environment; maintain public order; ensure the delivery of basic services; adopt measures to prevent and control the proliferation of squatters, prevent and eradicate drug abuse, child abuse, women abuse and juvenile delinquency.
The barangay council can also enact ordinances; levy taxes and other revenue measures; provide for construction and maintenance of barangay facilities and public works; regulate use of public facilities, including the building of a waterworks system.
Currently, the Punong Barangay gets a P1000 monthly honorarium, while the other barangay officials receive P600 per month as honorarium as provided by the Local Government Code.
“Hopefully, this will encourage and professionalize the recruitment of barangay officials,” Chatto said.
Meanwhile, another Chatto bill seeks to provide security of tenure to the barangay secretary and the village treasurer.
At the same time, the measure, if it gets approved and becomes a law for the selection of the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer will be based on certain qualifications. The measure will also prescribe the renumeration package and benefits among others to be given to these appointed barangay secretaries and barangay treasurers.
The importance of the said positions in document and data safekeeping as well as fiscal management recording is essential to the delivery of basic services by the barangays as local government units.
Chatto stated that the existing practice of changing the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer with every change in barangay leadership is counterproductive in the aspect of management, documentation, continuity and the stewardship of important barangay records.
The reforms proposed in the proposed measures guarantee professionalism and a way to insulate the positions of barangay secretary and barangay treasurer from political influence, thus ensuring efficiency and objectivity, Chatto added.