Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday renewed his call for lawmakers to
expedite the approval of a bill that seeks to provide a lump sum
retirement gratuity pay equivalent to one year honorarium, or P100,000,
as well as a higher Christmas bonus for village or barangay officials.
Gatchalian said the existing amounts provided for under the Local
Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act No. 7160 are no longer
sufficient to provide for the families of barangay officials.
“The provisions in the Local Government Code enumerating the benefits
and privileges for these barangay officials leave much to be desired,”
Gatchalian said in his Senate Bill No. 1867.
“If we are to effectively give to the local government units the
self-sufficiency that the government envisions, we must be able to
provide the conditions conducive to a productive leadership,” Gatchalian
said in his Senate Bill No. 1867.
The senator also cited the crucial role of barangay officials in not
only enforcing laws but also in exercising judicial functions.
“The barangay officials are on-call 24/7 for the welfare of their
constituencies. Their political jurisdiction may be small but their
duties are expansive and call for direct assimilation among members of
the community,” he said.
The bill proposes to fill in the inequities in the present law by
providing for the increase in the barangay officials’ honorarium and
Christmas bonuses and granting an additional benefit of a lump sum
gratuity pay upon their retirement.
“That is the much-needed benefit and privilege to our hard-working barangay officials,” the senator added.
Under the measure, the P1,000 monthly allowance of barangay chairmen
as well as barangay tanods and members of the lupong tagapamayapa (or
those in the pacification committees), shall be increased from P2,000 to
P5,000.
“This is on top of the P2,000 Christmas bonus, an increase of P1,000
from the amount currently provided for in the law,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian also proposed grant scholarships to legitimate dependent children of barangay watchmen (tanod).
Meanwhile, retired barangay officials, who are at least 60 years of
age and has served nine years or three consecutive terms are entitled to
a lump sum gratuity pay equivalent to one year honorarium or P100,000,
as stated under the bill.
The amounts needed for such benefits would be sourced from the
Barangay Retirement Gratuity Fund that would be created following the
enactment of the proposed bill. (Hannah Torregoza)
Source of news and photo of Sen. Gatchalian: Manila Bulletin
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The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) is
soliciting the utmost support and cooperation of barangay officials in
the identification of high risk areas in the city’s 128 barangays so
that concerned government agencies and the local government will be
guided on the appropriate mitigating measures to be implemented to
prevent life and properties from being exposed to danger.
CDRRMC officials claimed that after Typhoon Ompong, potential danger
zones in the different barangays have been exposed, thus, the need for
the immediate implementation of the interventions that will prevent the
occurrence of untoward incidents that will pose a serious threat to life
and properties.
The CDRRMC wants barangay officials to immediately submit a list of
potential high risk areas in their areas of jurisdiction so that
requests for the conduct of an ocular inspection by experts from the
Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-CAR) can be
made to assess and evaluate the status of the said supposed danger
zones.
While it is true that copies of the geohazard map of the city
prepared by the MGB-CAR had been distributed in the city’s barangays for
the information of barangay officials and residents, the CDRRMC pointed
out the need for barangay officials to be updated on the prevailing
situation in their places for them to be guided on future actions to
take to mitigate negative effects of future natural and man-made
calamities to the people and private as well as public properties
situated in their barangays.
The CDRRMC also urged the different Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Councils (BDRRMCs) to be proactive in the implementation
of pre-emptive evacuation among residents living in identified risk
areas even before the onslaught of future natural calamities to ensure
that people will be in safe places before calamity will occur and avoid
any casualty.
The CDRRMC continues to engage barangay officials in the
post-disaster efforts of the local government to make sure that the real
cost of damages to private and public properties is reflected in its
report to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) to avail of assistance that may be extended to the city by
concerned government agencies to rehabilitate damaged properties.
According to CDRRMC officers, residents must strictly adhere to the
proposed mitigating measures in their properties to significantly reduce
their exposure to danger in times of natural and man-made calamities
that could strike anytime, thus, the ultimate remedy to whatever
difficult situation is preparedness.
The CDRRMC oversees the implementation of the city’s local disaster
risk reduction and management plan to ensure that residents in the city
are resilient before, during and after the onslaught of natural and
man-made calamities considering that the Cordillera, including Baguio
City, is one of the calamity-stricken areas in the country, thus, the
need for people to be always on their toes to lessen the impact of
calamities to life and property. (Dexter A. See)
Source of news and photo: Herald Express http://baguioheraldexpressonline.com/identification-of-high-risk-areas-in-barangays-sought/
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The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) has asked Indigineous People (IP) tribal leaders
and the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) to help resolve
the suspected “pangayaw” or tribal war in the Bukidnon town of Kitaotao.
Lt. Col Ezra Balagtey, Eastmincom spokesperson, said the conflict has
already displaced families belonging to the indigenous people (IP) in
the area. A number of families, he said, had fled to nearby Arakan town
in North Cotabato to escape the violence.
“We are calling the tribal group concerned to resolve their issue
through their respective IP leaders, of course with the intervention of
the NCIP office,” Balagtey said.
Balagtey assured that the military and other law enforcement agencies
would not allow the conflict to escalate and spill into neighboring
communities.
“Our job is to protect everyone,” the military official said.
Police reports indicated that villagers in the remote Barangay Tawas
fled to Arakan Valley in North Cotabato after eight armed men entered
the area on Monday, allegedly to avenge the killing of a relative.
Killed during the suspected “pangayaw” was 61-year-old Rodulfo
Caingles Handuman, who was stabbed and hacked in different parts of his
body.
The Kitaotao Municipal Police Station identified one of the armed men
as Tudan Uban, a resident of Barangay Sinuda, Kitaotao. Tudan and the
other suspects fled after the killing.
Capt. Norman Tagros, civil-military operations officer (CMO) of the
Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, said the tribal conflict stemmed from a
stabbing incident that occurred at a public dance, where a member of a
Matigsalug tribe was killed.
“Then the members of the tribe (and the victim’s) relatives fought
back. They were able to kill one person (Handuman). Unfortunately, it
was a mistaken identity,” Tagros said.
An investigation by the local police is still ongoing as of posting time, Tagros said. (Rhoda Grace Saron)
Source of news: Philippine News Agency https://www.ptvnews.ph/ip-leaders-ncip-asked-to-help-settle-bukidnon-tribal-violence/
Photo Credits: (1) Members of a Bukidnon tribal group in their ceremonial costumes, Bonzeti Panganiban; (2) Photo of Arakan town people and Mayor Rene B. Rubino, MDRRMC Facebook page
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The Liga ng mga Barangay in the Province of Bohol is pushing for the installation of internet and Wifi connections in all of the province's 1109 barangay halls for the public's free use.
The LNB led by its President, ex-officio Board Member Romulo Cepedoza, filed a resolution appealing to Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Chair of Congress' committee on information and communications technology, to support the initiative at the Lower House.
In the resolution filed in latter part of September, the LNB highlighted the need for WiFi in the province's barangay halls due to the growing number of local and foreign tourists, who are like to need connectivity.
The initiative would also be implemented in accordance with President Duterte's previously mentioned drive to provide WiFi in all government offices and public areas.
Meanwhile, several municipal halls and government facilities including the airport and seaports in the province have stated to offer free WiFi to the public.
SOURCE OF NEWS/PHOTO: The Bohol Chronicle Daily http://www.boholchronicle.com.ph/2018/10/05/lnb-pushes-for-free-wi-fi-at-bohols-1109-barangay-halls/
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A tourism stakeholders summit for barangay tourism councils was held recently through the initiative of City Tourism Office of San Fernando City in Pampanga and the Department of Tourism.
The event, which was held last September 28, 2018 at Heroes Hall, aims to strengthen the state of tourism at the barangay level by promoting their cultures and traditions, historical landmarks, unique cuisine and products to the local and as well as foreign tourists.
Source of news and photo: Orbit News Online.
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The Provincial Information Office of Dinagat Islands strengthened the
capability of its Barangay Information Officers (BIOs) through the
conduct of orientation and capability seminar on September 11-24, 2018
in the seven municipalities of the province.
The orientation and capability seminar purposely aimed to have direct
access and linkages with the barangay community and enable BIOs to act
as reporters via radio or cable TV news, provided that they can comply
with requirements duly set by the local government unit of the province.
During the said activity, the BIOs were oriented on disseminating
information about how to be prepared in times of calamities and
disasters such as floods, earthquake, fire, storm surge, tsunami,
typhoon and landslide, mobile photography and how to avail the services
of PUSO (Public Utility Services Outreach) program of the province.
The BIOs were also given a flashdrive, compact disc, tarpaulin and
brochures that include the Early Warning System videos for them to be
prepared in times of disasters and calamities.
The activity was participated by MIOs (Municipal Information
Officers); BIOs (Barangay Information Officers); and the Municipal
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (MDRRMOs) from the towns
of Loreto, Tubajon, Libjo, Basilisa, Cagdianao and
Dinagat. (PIO-Dinagat Islands)
Source of news:Philippine Information Agency Photo credit: Dinagat Islands Capitol Bldg., RMN Networks.
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The Metro Kidapawan Water District (MKWD) has filed charges against
an Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representative (IPMR) from Kidapawan
City who led a group of tribal people that allegedly encroached on a
watershed area at Mt. Apo.
MKWD general manager Stella Gonzales said that two weeks ago, IPMR
and ex-officio councilor Raden Igwas fenced off the area consisting of
about 600 hectares, at Barangay Perez. The area, according to Gonzales,
is source of potable drinking water for thousands of households in the
city and nearby Matalam town in North Cotabato.
During a barangay consultation on Saturday, Gonzales showed
photographs to residents of Barangay Perez where a signage states: “This
is the Property of Rodolfo Y. Gantuangco.”
Gonzales accused Igwas of fencing off the area and putting the signage.
Gantuangco is former mayor of Kidapawan City. Accordingly, the Igwas
clan sold the land to Gantuangco and in turn sold the area to a
Manila-based businessman.
“How come IPMR Igwas is claiming such land if the MKWD has prior
rights over it? The area is considered watershed. We’ve been in the
place since the 1950s,” Gonzales said, adding that the other party’s
claim of ownership started only this year.
MKWD legal counsel Christoper Cabilen, concurrent city legal officer,
said the area was sold to a doctor-turned-businessman who wanted to
construct a 600-hectare resort.
“This is not about the IP rights over their ancestral domain. No.
This is about selling the lot to an investor so that a swimming resort
could be constructed in the area. Their intrusion to the area is, by
all means, questionable, since it is a watershed, that’s why a case has
been filed,” said Cabilen.
Mayor Joseph Evangelista called for a barangay consultation in Barangay Perez on Saturdayand
among those who attended were MKWD manager Gonzales, Cabilen, barangay
Perez chair and his council, and several department managers of the city
government.
Evangelista said he monitored two weeks ago the presence of 15 armed men who called themselves ‘Bagani,’guarding the area. The mayor said he wanted to know if the firearms used by these Baganis were licensed or if these people have license to carry guns outside their residences.
In the meantime, Gonzales said her office is bent on pursuing the
case against Igwas despite appeals from a tribal group and from the
barangay council. (Malu Cadelina-Manar)
Source of news: Minda News. Photo Credit: Kidapawan Water District/Facebook.
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