Cash aid for barangay VAW staff pushed

CEBU, Philippines — A Cebu City councilor has proposed an ordinance granting financial assistance to barangay appointed employees assigned in the Violence Against Women’s (VAW) Desk.

Sponsored by Councilor Lea Japson, the proposed measure is now pending before the city council’s committee on laws, ordinances, and styling as well as the oversight committee for review.

“Due to limited internal revenue allotment of the barangay, the said personnel only receive minimal salary which is not even commensurate to their assigned task,” read the proposed ordinance.

To compensate for their work, Japson proposed that the city government will provide financial assistance to these barangay VAW desk personnel to augment their cost of living.

The amount of financial assistance to be given to all personnel assigned to the VAW desk shall be P5,000 every month.

The city government, if its finances warrant, may increase the amount of the financial assistance.

These barangay personnel are required to submit the documentary requirements in order to be entitled to receive the said financial assistance from the city government.

These include appointment/plantilla; master list duly received by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); authority to collect honoraria duly signed by the Mayor; accomplishment report duly signed and approved by the punong barangay and duly received by the DILG.

Under the proposal, the amount necessary to carry out the provisions of the ordinance shall be charged against the current and subsequent Aid to Barangay Account of the Mayor’s Office.

Within 30 days from its effectivity, the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Cebu City Chapter, in coordination with the City Legal Officer and the head of Barangay Affairs Office of the Mayor, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of the ordinance. — GMR (FREEMAN)