SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Saturday assured barangay officials in the country that apart from his initiative to provide them with Social Security System benefits and fix their term to six years, the House of Representatives is also working for the passage of a Magna Carta for Barangays.
The Speaker on Aug. 13 bared before Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB) during their National Congress of his advocacy to have them covered by SSS at no cost to them so they could be protected with life insurance and enjoy lifetime pension upon retirement.
Likewise, the Speaker told village officials that he filed a proposal in the House of Representatives to give them a fixed term of office of six years to insulate them from electoral concerns and allow them to focus on their responsibilities to their constituents.
“Nais ko ring ipahayag na kahit abala tayo sa mga hakbangin na ito, hindi pa rin natin pinapabayaan ang pangarap nating magkaroon ng Magna Carta for Barangays,” Speaker Romualdez told another batch of village officials attending the LNB 2024 National Congress at the World Trade Center in Pasay City Saturday.
“Sa panukalang ito, layunin natin na gawing komprehensibo ang mga benepisyo at suporta na ibinibigay natin sa mga barangay officials,” added the leader of the 300-plus members House of Representatives.
He urged barangay officials to contribute their input on measures that would benefit them.
“Umaasa ako na magiging katuwang namin kayo sa pagbubuo ng batas na ito. Hinihikayat ko kayong lahat na magpasa ng mga position papers at ipagpatuloy ang ating ugnayan upang masigurong maisama ang inyong mga kahilingan sa panukalang ito,” he said.
He cited the critical role village officials play in linking their communities to the national government and in delivering public services.
“Ang Liga ng mga Barangay ay isa sa mga pinakamahalagang organisasyon sa ating bansa ngayon dahil sa papel na ginagampanan ninyo sa ating mga komunidad,” he said.
Earlier, Speaker Romualdez told barangay officials that the House is considering the passage of a bill mandating local government units to earmark funds for the monthly SSS premium contribution of barangay officers.
“Sa ganitong paraan, hindi na ninyo iisipin ang buwanang hulog sa SSS,” he said.
He stressed that he and his colleagues in the House are fully aware of the concerns of barangay officials on their welfare and that of their families while they are serving their communities.
Speaker Romualdez had urged barangay officials to immediately register with the SSS to enable them to enjoy the benefits provided by the pension system.
According to SSS President Rolando Macasaet, aside from the SSS insurance coverage and pension benefits, the Speaker also sought the condonation of penalties for unpaid loans of village officials who are already SSS members.
