By JUNE S. BLANCO
“GRADUATING” barangay officials are now one step closer to retirement benefits.
This after Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) filed a bill seeking the grant of benefits upon retirement of the punong barangay, members of the Sangguniang Pambarangay, barangay secretaries and treasurers as well as the barangay tanods, barangay health workers (BHWs), day care workers (DCWs), and members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa.
The move, in effect, amends Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code. It expands the scope of “barangay officials” as expounded in RA 7160.
Under House Bill 325, officials who are 60 years old and have served the barangay for at least nine years in an elective or appointive capacity stand to get a lump sum upon their retirement equivalent to their honorarium for 12 months but not to exceed P100,000.
Aumentado said the bill also intends to recognize the efforts of the barangay officials who, more often than not, are the frontliners in addressing problems in their locatoities, especially the remote ones.
In these cases, he said, when barangay folks manage to contact the police, sheer distance, rough roads and poor logistics often make their arrival too late – either the troublemaker has left, or the trouble has gone beyond control.
He added that the retirement age of 60 instead of the 65 of most civil servants also intends to let the retirees enjoy their remaining years with some funds to start a business or an income-generating project while still active and able.
In the Philippine setting where extended families are often the norm, the head of the family, who may be the father or mother, takes even their married children and even grandchildren under their wing. This means, the head may not save up for himself, or herself, for some needs after retirement, hence the envisioned benefit.
Under the bill, the retirement fund will be taken from the increase in the barangays’ share in the 20% development fund – from 40% to 41%. The 1% excess shall be kept in trust for the retirement fund.
