TINGOG party-list Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre on Sunday urged the House of Representatives to prioritize a measure that aims to increase the allowances of barangay officials and the grant of honoraria and benefits to barangay workers and tanod (village police officers).

The proposal, which is embodied in House Bill (HB) 2349, also seeks to professionalize the recruitment of barangay officials and workers by the local government units.

The bill will provide compensation and benefits to barangay workers who have served for at least one year.

“Under Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the ‘Local Government Code of 1991,’ as amended, barangay officials are compensated in the form of honorarium at an amount not less than P1,000 per month for the punong barangay (village chief) and P600 per month for each Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council) member, barangay treasurer and barangay secretary,” the lawmakers said.

They pointed out that such compensation is no longer in accordance with the regional minimum wage level.

The law does not provide compensation for barangay tanod “despite the services they render to their constituents,” the lawmakers said.

“This bill seeks to provide a compensation package commensurate with the work and services the barangay officials extend to their constituents and to encourage and professionalize the recruitment of barangay officials,” they added.

HB 2349 seeks to amend Section 393 of the Local Government Code by increasing the minimum honoraria or allowances that could be given to barangay officials, including barangay tanod and members of Lupong Tagapamayapa.

The proposed law increases the minimum allowance of punong barangay to P3,500 per month.

The bill also proposes that the P600 allowance of Sangguniang Barangay members, barangay treasurer, secretary and tanod be increased to P2,500 per month.

HB 2349 is pending with the House committee on local government.