The Bacolod City Council passed on first reading the proposed ordinance providing hospital, accident and life insurance to all barangay officials and workers and allocating funds for the purpose.
Councilor Caesar Distrito sponsored the said ordinance which was co-authored by Councilors Em L. Ang and Carlos Jose V. Lopez.
This ordinance aims to provide insurance coverage to these sectors that are always at the forefront of public service and are prone to accidents and life-threatening situation.
“This is the City Government’s way of saying thank you to all our partners in government service, particularly in the barangays, by giving them insurances in order to give them and their families’ protection in the future,” Distrito said.
“The proposed insurance coverage primarily targets barangay tanods or police auxiliaries who serve as volunteers in helping maintain the peace and order in their respective areas. In so doing, they expose themselves to risks. In fact, some of them already died in the line of duty but they received nothing because they did not have any insurance to cover such death or hospitalization. Now, they are suffering the burden of paying their bills without any help from the government,” Distrito said.
The ordinances is also in compliance with Section 458, par. 1 (xiii) of the new Local Government Code which provides that the City Council shall pass ordinances that will provide group insurance or additional insurance coverage for all barangay officials, including the members of the Tanod brigades and other service units.
Distrito’s proposal was referred to the committee on laws, ordinances and good government for public hearing. (Carla N. Cañet)