VICE President Jejomar Binay's promise to turn all barangay officials into salaried employees was easier said than done, a Palace official indicated Sunday.
In an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that giving salary to village officials requires thorough study as this would have budgetary implications.
"Kailangan pong isailalim sa pag-aaral ang panukalang ‘yan dahil ang pambansang pamahalaan po ay isinasaalang-alang lahat ng mga gastusin na kinakailangang gawin ng ating pamahalaan," he said.
"'Yon pong pagbibigay ng regular na sahod sa mga barangay official ay magkakaroon po ‘yan ng budgetary implications, at bilang bahagi ng mainam na pangangasiwa ng ating kabuhayan, isinasaalang-alang ang mga implikasyon ng mga panukalang ‘yan sa pananalapi at sa kalagayang pinansyal ng ating pamahalaan," Coloma added.
In a visit in Quezon province, Binay reportedly promised that if he is elected president, one of his programs would be to make village officials as salaried employees.
Currently, barangay officials only receive monthly allowance and honoraria ranging from P1,000 to P10,000 from their own budget.
Coloma said that any move to give regular salary to barangay officials would need the passage of a law.
"Kung ito ay ipapanukalang maging batas, tiyak na idadaan po ito sa pagsusuri ng ating Committee on Appropriations dahil ‘yan po ang sinusunod na patakaran—na kapag magsasagawa ng bagong patakaran na ang resulta ay pagbibigay ng mga dagdag na sahod o benepisyo o karagdagang gastusin ay isinasaalang-alang kung paano ito matutustusan, kung saan po kukunin ang pondo, at kung gaanong kahalaga ang kakayanan upang mapanatili ‘yung mahusay na kalagayang pinansyal ng ating buong pamahalaan," he said.
Binay's pledge to village officials was seen as his way of courting for their support on his presidential bid in 2016 elections. (SDR/Sunnex)