Abra lone district Representative JB Bernos on Thursday thanked Speaker Bojie Dy for committing to pass the Magna Carta for Barangays, a measure that seeks to improve the welfare of barangays and barangay workers in the country.
“As a former barangay captain and local executive, the Speaker of course has an intimate knowledge of the plight of our barangays and barangay workers. I am glad that he has identified the Magna Carta as one of his priorities, and the Speaker can definitely count on my support when we tackle the bill in the local government committee,” Bernos said.
During the Liga ng mga Barangay Congress on Tuesday, Dy committed the chamber’s support for House Bill No. 3533, which pushes for the designation of barangay officials as regular government employees with fixed salaries, allowances, insurance, retirement and other fringe benefits, among others.
The bill also seeks to ensure the availability of basic services and facilities in barangays for the benefit of residents, as well as strengthen the capability of barangays to perform and deliver the services expected from them.
“The Magna Carta for Barangays recognizes the role that barangays and barangay officials could play in creating a better living environment for the people.”
Under the bill, every municipality and city in the country will be required to construct and/or maintain at least one deep well with a pumping device for drawing drinking water for every 1,000 residents of each barangay within their jurisdiction.
Every barangay would also be entitled to have at least one elementary school, provided that there should be at least one high school every 5 kilometers from the barangay center; as well as one health center and one barangay hall.
The measure also calls for the automatic release of barangays’ just share from the national taxes every end of the calendar year; direct remittance of funds for the maintenance of barangay roads and bridges and other facilities; and a mandatory 25-percent share of all taxes collected on real properties within the barangay, and a further 10-percent share of all other forms of taxes, fees, penalties, compromises or other charges collected from persons residing in the barangay or entities whose offices and/or manufacturing plants are located within the barangay.
Bernos, who also serves as president emeritus of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, lauded the bill for being “comprehensive in its attempt to truly empower barangays.”
“If we want true local autonomy we should start at the most basic unit, and the Magna Carta for Barangays recognizes the role that barangays and barangay officials could play in creating a better living environment for the people,” the lawmaker added.
He also expressed hope that the Magna Carta, which has languished in Congress for years, would finally be passed.
