Congress urged:Fix wages of b’gay execs

By Susan C. Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - - The move to increase and give fixed salaries to barangay officials is gaining ground nationwide with officials saying daily functions they play in the community are not commensurate to their work.

Seeing the urgency to compensate barangay officials who run the basic political unit of the government, provincial officials expressed their support to Misamis Oriental measure urging the Senate and the House of Representatives for passage of a law providing fixed salaries including additional benefits and incentives for elected barangay officials.

The measure also proposed for inclusion of barangay secretaries and treasurers.

There were measures filed in the present Congress such as Senate Bill 134 of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and House Bill 4652 by Isabela 4th District Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao but still pending in the respective committees,

There were earlier legislative measures introducing the standardization of salaries of barangay officials authored separately by former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Sen. Miriam Santiago but were not acted upon.

The barangay, the Misamis Oriental Resolution Number 133-2015 said, is the most accessible venue where collective views of the people are expressed and considered including disputes among constituents amicably settled of which barangay officials play a major role.

They even go to the extent of apportioning their personal resources to address concerns and requests for help from their respective constituents, the measure stated.

To give justice to their efforts in the promotion of good governance, the provision of fixed salaries and incentives will fuel their passion to serve as well as entice others to engage in public service in the barangay,  it added.