By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA — Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. believes barangay officials and workers deserve retirement benefits.
Marcos filed Senate Bill (SB) 12, which seeks to provide a barangay captain P100,000 and a Sangguniang Barangay member (kagawad or councilman) P80,000 upon retirement.
Under the bill, barangay health workers and day care workers are also entitled to a retirement benefit of P50,000.
Close to 96,000 barangay officials and workers are qualified for the benefits, the Department of Interior and Local Government said.
There are nearly two million incumbent barangay officials, the department reported.
“Our barangay officials and workers are the front-liners in the delivery of basic and other public services to our countrymen,” Marcos said.
Sadly, they are only entitled to minimum benefits, the senator lamented.
“Their dedication and contribution to public service for a certain period of time, without monthly salaries but with only honoraria, allowances or other emoluments, deserves more than mere recognition,” he said.
Marcos’ bill provides that those qualified to avail themselves of the benefit should be “at least 60 years of age” and “with at least nine years in service.”
Those who die or become incapacitated while on duty will also get their respective benefits “irrespective of his or her age and number of years in service,” the bill stated./PN
