Barangays: Magna Carta
Philippine Information Agency
2010/01/14
Magna Carta for barangays: Pimentel bill gets San Juan support
San Juan City, Metro Manila (14 January 2010) — City councilors Dante Santiago and Noel Rozon recently led the San Juan City council in expressing support for immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 277 otherwise known as the “Magna Carta For Barangays” authored by Senator Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel, Jr. and called for its approval in both Houses of the Philippine Congress thru City Resolution 64-2009.
Santiago and Rozon invoked Section 384 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 which state that, as the basic political unit, the barangay serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government programs, projects and activities and recognized the fact that it is the same forum in which the collective views of the people in the community are crystallized and considered.
“Due to its important role, it is only proper that measures be adopted to promote the welfare and prosperity of all barangays,” Rozon explained.
Rozon, who is the president of an organization made up of all barangay captains in San Juan City called the Liga ng mga Barangay, said that Senate Bill 277 is pending before the Senate Committees on Local Government and Finance.
Rozon added that under the bill, the barangay officials will be considered as regular government employees with fixed salaries, allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits and other fringe benefits to which a regular government employee is entitled to.
Santiago, the three-term legislator from District I, on the other hand explained that the share of the barangays from national taxes will automatically be released as well as the transfer of funds to the barangay for the maintenance of roads and bridges;
“If Senator Pimentel’s bill is approved, every barangay shall be given the authority and capability to solve its problems on its level,” Santiago clarified.
Rozon added that the Pimentel bill will give all punong barangays (Bgy. Captains) a salary equivalent to the salary of a sangguniang panglunsod member of the City while the Sangguniang Barangay members or Kagawads will receive an amount equivalent to eighty percent (80%) of the salary of a sangguniang bayan member of his municipality.
The Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson, the barangay secretary, and the barangay treasurer shall in turn receive an amount equivalent to seventy-five percent (75%) of the salary of a sangguniang panlungsod member of the City.
Santiago said that Section 10 of SB 277 states that all public funds appropriated from the national treasury for the maintenance of barangay roads and bridges and other similar constructions shall be transferred or remitted directly to the general fund of every barangay for their proper disposition by the barangay officials.
The Liga ng mga Barangay of San Juan City unanimously adopted a resolution of their own expressing full support to the said City Resolution. (SJ/PIA) [top]
LINK: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&sec=reader&rp=2&fi=p100114.htm&no=14&date=01/14/2010