Benefits for barangay volunteer workers pushed

Lawmakers have proposed the Barangay Volunteer Workers Benefits Act to

promote better and more effective delivery of basic services at the barangay level
!B "##" aims to provide $ust compensation to the volunteers that render service to
the Barangays in the form of benefits and monetary compensation% the authors stressed
Authors of the proposed Act include& 'ep Leni (erona)'obredo *+
rd
,istrict%
-amarines .ur/0 'ep 1aka Bag)ao *Lone ,istrict% ,inagat 2slands/0 'ep Bolet Banal *+
rd
,istrict% 3ue4on -ity/0 and 'ep 5a Lourdes Acosta)Alba *6
st
,istrict% Bukidnon/
-urrently% Barangay units are aided by volunteers in ensuring that health services
and public safety are en$oyed by the people 7hese volunteers give their time and effort in
the service of their Barangay on their own volition% the authors noted with a sense of
pride
!B "##" also intends to give the volunteers additional training in order to serve
their communities better and help in further developing their respective communities or
barangays
7he authors recall that a similar bill was originally filed by former 5isamis
8ccidental 'ep Loreto 8campos during the 6"
th
-ongress 2t was passed on third reading
by the !ouse of 'epresentatives and transmitted to the .enate where it was overtaken by
time
7he Barangay is the smallest administrative9political component of the countrys
democratic governance and the primary unit where policies% plans% and various pro$ect are
implemented
An environment where citi4ens are part in the implementation of policies and
protection of their localities is necessary to strengthen the nations primary political unit in
governance% (erona)'obredo pointed out
2t is essential% the authors added% that a partnership between the Barangay and its
constituents be nurtured in order to ensure continued growth and development in
communities all over the country% they added
!B "##" covers all members of accredited -ivilian 8rgani4ations *-V8s/ and all
other volunteers who perform regular governances or service functions in the Barangay
:nder the bill% the Barangay shall provide allowances to Barangay volunteers%
NR # 3598B
SEPT. 23, 2014
which may not e;ceed the minimum salary rate for .()6% provided that no volunteer shall
receive an allowance lower than <6%"##9month
7he allowances shall be charged to the administrative budget of the Barangay%
which comprise =#> of its annual 2nternal 'evenue Allotment *2'A/% and income from
other sources0 provided that these shall not be covered by the ""> cap on <ersonal
.ervices and that the payment of said allowances shall be sub$ect to the availability of
funds and pertinent budgeting% accounting% and auditing rules and regulations
Likewise% a volunteer shall be asked to sign a 5emorandum of Agreement *58A/
defining the period of service% reckoned from the date of the volunteers assignment 7his
58A may be renewed upon the agreement of the volunteer% the -V8% and the Barangay
chairperson
?urthermore% additional benefits come in the form of <hil!ealth coverage% free legal
services from government lawyers or private lawyers pursuant to 'A @@@@% and availing
of trainings and seminars on human rights% disaster response and risk reduction% and others
deemed necessary by the city or municipality where the volunteers render service *+#/ dpt