by Atty. Jay I. Dejaresco
The local government code mandates certain benefits for barangay officials.
One of the main benefits of barangay officials is their honoraria.
The law mandates that barangay officials, meaning the punong barangay and the members of the sanggunian, including barangay tanods and members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa shall receive honoraria, allowances and other emoluments.
As long as the sangguniang barangay enacts and ordinance granting allowances, honoraria, and other emoluments, it is allowed.
But of course there are limitations.
One main limitation is the budget.
A barangay cannot just enact an ordinance granting any amount of honoraria or monetary benefits.
If the barangay only has limited budget, then the honoraria will also be limited.
Another limitation is the budget restriction on personnel services.
The local government code mandates that appropriations in the barangay budget for personnel services shall not exceed 45% or 55% depending on the category of the barangay.
In other words, the barangay cannot appropriate its entire budget for the honoraria of its officials.
However, the higher local government unit like the city or the municipality or even the province can enact an ordinance appropriating an amount for the honoraria of barangay officials.
Even Congress can appropriate an amount for honoraria of barangay officials.
Christmas bonus.
Barangay officials including the barangay secretary and treasurer are entitled to Christmas bonus of at least P1,000.
They shall be entitled to insurance coverage during their incumbency.
The coverage shall include to temporary and permanent disability, double indemnity, accident insurance, death and burial benefits.
Barangay officials shall also be entitled to free medical assistance including subsistence medicines and medical attendance in any government hospital or institution.
Hospital care includes surgery and surgical expenses, medicines, Xrays, laboratory fees and other hospital expenses.
If there is no government hospital, the barangay official may submit for medical attention in a private hospital or clinic and can incur expenses not exceeding P5,000, chargeable to the barangay.
During their incumbency, barangay officials are exempted from paying tuition for their legitimate dependent children attending state colleges and universities.
So a barangay official can send his legitimate child to UP, as long as the child passes the entrance exam and comply with the school’s requirements.
Even the barangay official himself can avail of educational benefits in a state college or university within the province or city to which the barangay belongs.
Unlike a legitimate child, the barangay official can only avail of educational benefits within the city or province where he is serving.
The limitation is sound because a barangay official cannot serve as such if he is studying far away from his barangay.
A barangay official is entitled to civil service eligibility depending on the the number of years of service to the barangay.
Barangay officials shall also have preference in appointments to any government position or in any government owned corporation or its subsidiaries, after their tenure of office.
Of course he must first qualify and satisfy all requirements of the office he is applying.
There are a several benefits for barangay officials, which they should be aware of, so they can avail of these benefits.