Barangay officials will be entitled to regular pay and benefits under Sen. Bong Go's proposed magna carta.

The significant roles played by barangay (village) officials in providing frontline services to communities prompted Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go to push for a magna carta for the country’s smallest administrative division.

Go’s Senate Bill No. 391, or the Magna Carta for Barangay, was among the measures discussed in Monday’s joint public hearing of the Senate Committees on Local Government, Ways and Means, Finance, and Corporations and Public Enterprises.

“We all know that the barangay and its officials are the immediate providers of frontline services. Sila ang pinakaunang tinatakbuhan ng ating mga kababayan,” Go said. “And it is because of this reason that we have to further improve the barangay and address the woes of our officials.”

Go’s bill outlines the basic priorities in each barangay, such as the right of every barangay to have regular supply of clean and potable water; to have readily available means of public transport; and the entitlement of every barangay to schools, health centers and barangay halls.

Go also lamented the lack of regular salaries for barangay officials despite their key duties and responsibilities.

“Barangay officials are the first to respond, first to provide and first to serve. Despite this, they receive simple honoraria for their service. That is why under the bill I filed, barangay officials will now be treated as regular government employees receiving benefits that regular government employees enjoy,” Go said.

The Punong Barangay, members of the Sangguniang Barangay, the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson, the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer will be entitled to salaries, emoluments, allowances such as hazard pay, representation and transportation allowance, 13th month pay and other benefits under Go’s bill.

In support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality, Go said the measure will also allow the appointment of sufficient watchmen (tanod) to help maintain peace and order in lieu of the current set-up where the limit is only 20 per barangay.

“This will ensure the maintenance of peace and order in the barangay. Surely, the security and safety of our countrymen must be met first in their immediate communities,” Go said. “Like all other government officials, we should give importance to them and recognize their worth.”