ELECTED barangay officials in Cebu City may soon enjoy a retirement benefit from the City Government.
In his proposed ordinance, City Councilor Alvin Raymond Garcia said elected barangay officials receive salaries in the form of honoraria, but this does not entitle them to be beneficiaries of the Government Service Insurance System.
“The grant of other benefits to barangay officials not otherwise included in the Local Government Code is authorized under Section 393 of Republic Act 7160, which provides that barangay officials shall receive honoraria, allowances and such other emoluments as may be authorized by law or barangay, municipal or city ordinance,” reads a part of the ordinance entitled “Barangay Retirement Gratuity Benefit Ordinance.”
Garcia said elected barangay officials include barangay captains and councilors and not Sangguniang Kabataan officials and other barangay staff, who are not elected.
Under his proposal, Sangguniang Barangay members will receive P3,000 for every year of service, reckoned from the time they took their oath of office, while barangay captains will receive P5,000 for every year of service.
Garcia said even elected officials who only serve one year is qualified to enjoy gratuity benefits.
The fund will be allocated annually to be taken from any appropriate account to be determined by the mayor.
The City Council has already referred the ordinance to the committee on laws. (JJL)