NOV.

5, 2013

NR # 3278

Additional non-monetary economic benefits for all barangay officials pushed

Elected and appointed barangay officials will get additional benefits that can augment their income under a bill expressing concern for their plight. Rep. Silvestre Bello III (Party list! " B#P$ authored %ouse Bill &'&( to give evident importance and significance on the extent of the roles of barangay officials who en)oy limited benefits and emoluments. *overed by the bill are barangay officials! barangay tanods! members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, barangay secretaries and treasurers. +nder the bill! the barangay officials are entitled to "(, discount and -#. exemption on the professional fees of attending physician/s in all private hospitals! medical facilities! outpatient clinics and home health care services. 0.hey will also get discounts on actual fare for land transportation travel in public utility buses (P+Bs$! public utility )eepneys (P+1s$! taxis! #sian utility vehicles (#+-s$! shuttle services and public railways! including light rail transit (2R.$! mass rail transit (3R.$! and Philippine 4ational Railways (P4R$!5 Bello said. .hey are entitled to discounts on the purchase of basic commodities for household consumption not exceeding P&! ((( monthly and admission fees charged by theaters! cinema houses and concert halls! circuses! leisure and amusement. Incumbent barangay officials who died while in office will be entitled to a &(, discount on funeral and burial services. 2i6ewise! they are entitled to a "(, educational assistance of the total fee per semester for those who wish to pursue post secondary! tertiary! post tertiary! vocational or technical education! as well as short term courses in state colleges or universities of their preference! provided they meet the minimum admission re7uirements. 08espite their significant roles in the community! the allowances and benefits that they receive are not commensurate to the 7uality and range of services and assistance they extend to their constituents! while the economic benefits derived from the fixed monetary allowances as provided for under the 2ocal 9overnment *ode since its enactment have long been eroded by inflationary forces!5 Bello stressed.

+nder the measure to be 6nown as 0#n #ct 9ranting #dditional 4on 3onetary Economic Benefits and Privileges to Barangay :fficials!5 aside from the benefits they usually receive as provided for under Section ;<; (a$! Boo6 III .itle :ne of Republic #ct =">(! elected and appointed barangay officials shall be granted "(, discount and exemption from the value added tax (-#.$ on the purchase of medicines and such other essential medical supplies! accessories and e7uipment to be determined by the 8epartment of %ealth (8:%$. .he 8epartment of Interior and 2ocal 9overnment (8I29 is mandated to formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules and regulations of R# =">( in consultation with the 8epartment of ?inance (8:?$! 8:%! 8epartment of .ransportation and *ommunications (8:.*$! 8epartment of Education (8epEd$! .echnical Education and S6ills 8evelopment #uthority (.ES8#$ and the *ommission on %igher Education (*%E8$. (;($ lvc