Equal stipend for appointed barangay workers pushed

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has approved an ordinance institutionalizing the granting of a uniform amount of financial assistance based on job classification to all appointed barangay employees.

The barangay appointed employees includes Gender and Development (GAD) Focal, barangay nutrition scholar (BNS), barangay heath worker (BHW), barangay environmental officer (BEO), barangay garbage collector/ loader, barangay tanod, and lupong tagapamayapa, among others.

The ordinance authored by Councilor Lea Japson seeks to ensure continuity of the granting of uniformed amount of financial assistance to all appointed barangay employees.

Section 4 of the ordinance states that the uniformed financial assistance per job classification received by all appointed barangay employees from the city government in the fiscal year 2020 shall be the standard amount of financial assistance in the succeeding years.

It was also provided that no diminution of benefits of barangay employees who have already received the said assistance. The city government may increase the standard amount of uniformed financial assistance if the city’s finances warrant.

The financial assistance (based from Fiscal Year 2020) for appointed barangay employees are as follows: P8,000 for GAD Focal; P8,000 for BNS; P7,500 for BHW; P5,000 for barangay garbage collector/ loader; P4,500 for BEO; P4,000 for lupong tagapamayapa; and P4,000 for barangay tanod.

All duly appointed barangay employees are required to submit the necessary documentary requirements in order to be entitled of the allowance from the city government such as the appointment/ plantilla and authority to collect honoraria duly signed by the mayor, to name a few.

Section 6 states the amount necessary to carry out the provisions of the ordinance shall be charged against the current and subsequent aid to barangay account under the Mayor’s Office.

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