ILOCOS Norte Governor Imee Marcos is batting for the barangay officials to be permanent government employees covered with salaries and benefits.

Marcos, who was guest in the Christmas party in La Carlota City hosted by Fourth District Representative Juliet Marie Ferrer and Vice Gubernatorial bet Jeffrey Ferrer on Sunday, December 16, said she understands thesituation and predicament of the barangay officials because she used to serve as national chair of then kabataang barangay.

“There are barangay officials who serve their respective barangays for 10 and some even 20 years or more but they are not covered with retirement and separation pays or even health care. So we want them also to enjoy the benefits regarded to government employees,” Marcos said.

Marcos, along with other governors, is also working on the implementation of the exact 60-40 sharing of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

At present, the local government units are only given 16 percent IRA share which is only based by the national government on the collection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, she said.