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AUG.

14, 2013

NR # 3195B

Retirement Fund for barangay officials proposed


A lawmaker has filed a bill establishing the Barangay Retirement Fund for the retirement pay of barangay officials. House Bill 325, authored principally Rep. Aleta Suarez (3 rd District, Quezon), will cover the Punong Barangay, barangay tanods, health workers, day care workers and members of the Lupon Tagapamayapa. Some barangay official spend almost their entire lives giving so much to their communities but receive so little in return, Suarez said. The bill seeks to amend Sections 284 and 392 of Republic Act 7160 or The Local Government Code of 1991. Under the bill, the local government units shall have a 41% share in the National Internal Revenue taxes based on the collection of the third fiscal year preceding the current fiscal year, provided that one percent from the 41% shall accrue to a special account solely dedicated to the Barangay Retirement Fund for the retirement pay of barangay officials, whether elected or appointed, including barangay tanods, health workers, day care workers and members of the Lupon Tagapamayapa. The bill provides that all barangay officials, whether elected or appointed including tanods, health workers, day care workers, and members of the Lupon Tagapamayapa shall be entitled to a lump sum retirement pay equivalent to one year honorarium, but not exceeding P100,000 which shall be taken from the Barangay Retirement Fund, provided the retiree is at least 60 years of age with a minimum of nine years in service at the time of retirement. Under the current Local Government Code, barangay officials, including tanods and members of the Lupon are only entitled to honoraria, allowances and other emoluments authorized by law or ordinance. These officials have no fixed monthly salaries and are not entitled to benefits under the Government Service Insurance system (GSIS) aside from burial benefits. It is but just and equitable that we recognize the contributions of these public servants by amending the internal revenue allotment (IRA), increasing it to 41% from 40%, Suarez said. Suarez said punong barangays maintain public order in the smallest political subdivision of the country, preside over sessions of the sangguniang barangay, and administer the operation of the Katarungang Pambarangay. She said members of the Lupon Tagapamayapa hear and mediate disputes at the barangay level, thereby maintaining peace and order in the barangay while Barangay tanods enforce all barangay ordinances and also take part in the maintenance of peace and order within the barangay. Given these functions, barangay officials are responsible for the peaceful and productive community we live in, Suarez said. (30) dpt

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