JAN.

19, 2012 DATE

NR # 2653
REF. NO.

Barangay officials to be covered by GSIS

Two Party-list lawmakers are pushing for a measure that seeks to recognize barangay officials in the country as government employees by putting them under the coverage of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Bayan Muna Reps. Neri Colmenares and Teddy Casio filed House Bill 5637, which will be known as An Act Providing Pension Benefits for Barangay Officials. The two legislators noted that barangay officials remain unrecognized government employees despite the fact that barangay council serves as the nearest link of the people to the government, thus depriving them of the benefits that government employees enjoy. Colmenares said by recognizing them as government employees and putting them under the coverage of the GSIS, barangay officials will be enjoying regular salaries, insurance coverage and retirement pensions. HB 5637 expands the coverage of the GSIS by including barangay officials as members of the System so that they can avail of its pension benefits. The bill further provides that the GSIS in consultation and coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the league representing barangay captains and officials shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement provisions of this act. The rules and regulations shall cover the rate of premiums and the manner of its payment, the extent of insurance coverage, the contributions to be collected from barangay officials and the possible contributions of provinces, cities, municipalities, possible funds that may be sourced from the General Appropriations Act, and other issues needed to implement this Act. The bill specified that barangay officials who will be included in the GSIS coverage are the Punong Barangay, Barangay Kagawads, Barangay Secretary and the Barangay Treasurer. Based on the Local Government Code of 1991, barangay officials are compensated in the form of an honorarium of an amount not less than P1,000 per month for the Punong Barangay and P600 each per month for the Sangguniang Barangay members, barangay Treasurer and Secretary, which may be increased or adjusted. Even if the honoraria has an equivalent salary grade, they will continue to receive compensation in the form of honoraria as specified in Section 393 of R. A. 7160, barangay officials shall only receive honoraria, allowances and other emoluments. (30) sb