Barangay execs to benefit from Yuletide social aid program

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan on May 29, 2019. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — Barangay officials and workers will soon benefit from a Yuletide Social Assistance Program under an executive order signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Executive Order No. 99 enjoins all Sangguniang Barangays to establish a Yuletide Social Assistance Program for barangay officials and workers this year.

Recognizing barangay officials and workers for their services, the order recognizes the Yuletide season as an “opportune time” to establish measures or programs for their “economic empowerment.”

“The yuletide season is an opportune time to establish such measures or programs for the economic empowerment of barangay officials and functionaries, in recognition of their valuable and meaningful service that effect genuine and positive change in their respective communities, consistent with the provisions of the local government code,” the order read.

The order recognizes barangay officials and workers as being “at the forefront in the delivery of essential and basic government services” such as healthcare, social welfare, agricultural support, settlement of disputes, peace, and order, as well as the promotion of the general interest of the community.

It also acknowledges the significant role and enormous responsibility of barangay officials and functionaries in nation-building.

Moreover, it recognizes the contribution of the barangay, in the attainment of the objectives under the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, through its “unconditional and passionate service rendered to the community, despite the inherent limitations in resources, logistics, facilities, and remuneration.”

Under the order, the Yuletide Social Assistance Program of the barangay shall be charged against their respective available funds.

Those covered by the assistance package are the punong barangay, barangay secretary, barangay treasurer, barangay tanods, members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, and other workers/personnel appointed, designated or engaged by the barangay.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall jointly issue the appropriate guidelines to effectively carry out and implement this order.

For the succeeding years, the DILG, in consultation with the DBM, shall study and propose measures for the provision of social assistance to qualified barangay officials and functionaries, as well as identify funding sources against which said social assistance may be charged.

The order was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by the authority of the President on December 6 but a copy of the document was released on Monday.