Barangay Workers Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) JU! P5:45 SENATE RIC 2*72 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND PERSONNEL, RECOGNIZING THEIR ROLE IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY, PROFESSIONALIZING BARANGAY SERVICE, GRANTING SALARIES, BENEFITS, AND SOCIAL PROTECTION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Barangay officials and personnel are the frontline workers of local government, providing essential services that directly affect the lives of every Filipino. Their work is critical to effective governance and responsive public service at the grassroots level. Despite the scope and importance of their duties, many barangay workers have long been treated as "voluntary" workers without stable compensation, benefits, or social protection. They are called upon to perform regular, demanding, and sometimes hazardous tasks, yet receive inconsistent or minimal allowances, if any. This bill recognizes a simple but essential principle: people who do regular work for the community deserve to be paid regularly. It seeks to professionalize barangay service by establishing a clear position classification and compensation system, ensuring barangay officials and personnel receive fair and consistent salaries appropriate to their roles and responsibilities. Under this proposal, standardized salary grades for barangay officials and personnel are developed. The bill also mandates coverage in essential social protection programs, hazard allowances, and other benefits. By professionalizing barangay service, this measure strengthens local governance and improves the delivery of basic services. It promotes fairness by acknowledging the value of regular, essential work performed at the community level. It also supports broader goals of inclusive development by investing in the welfare and dignity of barangay workers who are closest to the people they serve. Let us ensure every barangay worker is valued and supported for their dedication to their community.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Bam Oquirr

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 25 JUL -8 P5:45 First Regular Session RICH SENATE S. No. 2'72 Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND PERSONNEL, RECOGNIZING THEIR ROLE IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY, PROFESSIONALIZING BARANGAY SERVICE, GRANTING SALARIES, BENEFITS, AND SOCIAL PROTECTION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS 4 Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Workers Act." 5 Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to recognize the critical role 6 of barangay officials and personnel in local governance and frontline service delivery. 7 In pursuit of inclusive development and responsive public service, the State shall 8 ensure that all barangay officials and personnel, including those who were formerly serving in a voluntary capacity, are provided with just compensation, appropriate 10 benefits, and institutional support. 11 Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act:

1 (a) "Barangay Elective Officials" shall refer to the following: the Punong Barangay, 2 Members of the Sangguniang Barangay, Chairperson of the Sangguniang Kabataan, 3 and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan; 4 (b) "Barangay Appointive Officials" shall refer to the following: Barangay Secretary, Barangay Treasurer, Members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, Secretary of the 6 Sangguniang Kabataan, and Treasurer of the Sangguniang Kabataan; 7 (C) "Barangay Personnel" shall refer to individuals, other than elective and appointive 8 barangay officials, who regularly perform official functions within the barangay 9 government, including but not limited to the maintenance of peace and order, health and social services, early childhood care, disaster response, environmental protection, dispute resolution, and community development. Barangay Workers such as Barangay Tanods, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSS), Day Care Workers, Violence Against Women (VAW) Desk Officers, Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (BDRRM) Volunteers, and other functionaries performing essential services who have completed the basic training prescribed by relevant government agencies or duly recognized non-government organizations, shall be deemed Barangay Personnel under this Act.

Sec. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all Barangay Elective Officials, Appointive

Officials, and Barangay Personnel as defined in Section 3 of this Act: Provided, that when the barangay official or personnel receives a fixed salary by virtue of a permanent appointment in any other government office, by election to another public office or by employment in the private sector, their coverage under this Act shall automatically cease and they shall then be covered under the appropriate laws. TITLE II RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES AND ENTITLEMENTS OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND PERSONNEL

1 Sec. 5. Position Classification and Compensation Scheme for Barangay Officials and 2 Personnel. - Barangay officials and personnel shall be entitled to salaries, benefits or 3 allowances as compensation for services they rendered. The Department of Budget 4 and Management (DBM) shall develop a standardized Position Classification and 5 Compensation Scheme for Barangay Officials and Personnel, taking into consideration 6 the educational qualification, nature of work performed and the financial capability of 7 barangays, and are subject to the minimum qualification standards and guidelines to 8 be prescribed by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Such position classification and 9 compensation scheme shall conform with the following guidelines: (a) The Position Classification and Compensation Scheme for Barangay Officials and Personnel shall be comprised of three salary grades, namely: Barangay Salary Grade I for barangay appointive officials and barangay personnel; ii. Barangay Salary Grade II for barangay elective officials in the Sangguniang Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan with the exception of the Punong Barangay, and III. Barangay Salary Grade III for Punong Barangay. (b) The minimum salary for barangay officials and personnel shall be as follows: i. Barangay Salary Grade 1 - 5,000 ii. Barangay Salary Grade II - 7,500 ili. Barangay Salary Grade III - 10,000 22 The minimum salary indicated herein may be increased to a maximum rate equivalent 23 to the first step of the following salary grade level and its corresponding salary as 24 implemented by the city or municipality where the barangay belongs:

i. Barangay Salary Grade 1 Salary Grade 6 ii. Barangay Salary Grade II Salary Grade 10 ili. Barangay Salary Grade III Salary Grade 14 4 Provided, That no barangay official or personnel shall suffer any reduction, diminution 5 or withdrawal of salaries and benefits already enjoyed by the barangay official or 6 personnel concerned: Provided, further, that the grant of adjusted basic salary shall 7 be subject to limitations provided under Section 14 of this Act. 8 Sec. 6. Membership of Barangay Officials and Personnel in the Government Service 9 Insurance System. - The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) shall establish a social insurance program to provide life insurance and social protection to barangay officials and personnel. It shall be mandatory for barangay governments to pay the monthly contributions to life insurance, retirement, and social protection coverage of their respective barangay officials and personnel equivalent to twenty-one percent (21%) of their average monthly compensation, which corresponds to the twelve percent (12%) barangay government contribution and the nine percent (9%) employee contribution to be subsidized by the barangay government. Barangay governments shall include in its annual appropriations the amounts necessary for its share of contributions, plus any additional premiums that may be required on account of the hazards or risks of the occupation of barangay officials and 20 personnel. The mode of collection and remittance of contributions, including penalties for violations thereof, shall be in accordance with Republic Act No. 8291, otherwise 22 known as "The Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997." 23 Sec. 7. Enrollment of Barangay Officials and Personnel in the National Health 24 Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) shall enroll barangay officials and personnel into the National Health Insurance Program in accordance with existing laws, rules 27 and regulations.

1 Barangay governments shall include in its annual appropriations the amounts 2 necessary for its share of contributions. The amount of contributions due from 3 barangay officials and personnel and barangay governments, mode of collection and 4 remittance of contributions, including penalties for violations thereof, shall be in 5 accordance with Republic Act No. 7875, as amended, otherwise known as the National 6 Health Insurance Act of 1995. 7 Sec. 8. Membership of Barangay Officials and Personnel in the Mandatory Membership 8 Program of the Home Development Mutual Fund. - Barangay officials and personnel 9 shall be covered under the mutual provident savings system of the Home Development 10 Mutual Fund (PagIBIG Fund). Barangay governments shall include in its annual appropriations the amounts necessary for its share of contributions. The amount of contributions due from barangay officials and personnel and barangay governments, mode of collection and remittance of contributions, including penalties for violations thereof, shall be in accordance with Republic Act No. 9679, otherwise known as the "Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009."

Sec. 9. Hazard Allowance, - Barangay officials and personnel who render service in

areas declared under state of calamity or emergency shall be entitled to a hazard allowance equivalent to ten percent (10% ) of their monthly salary or honoraria, 20 whichever is applicable, until such declaration has been lifted by a competent 21 authority. 22 Sec. 10. Death and Burial Benefits. - In the event of death of barangay officials and personnel during their incumbency, their respective legal beneficiaries shall be entitled 24 to the following death and burial benefits: i. Barangay Salary Grade I - Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00); ii. Barangay Salary Grade II - Fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000.00); and ili. Barangay Salary Grade III - Twenty-five thousand pesos (P25,000.00)

1 In addition to the death benefits herein provided, a burial benefit of Two thousand 2 pesos (P2,000.00) shall be paid to the beneficiaries of barangay officials and personnel 3 within twenty-four (24) hours after written notice and satisfactory proof of death. 4 In case the death of a barangay official or personnel occurred by reason, or on the 5 occasion of the performance of their official duties and functions, the legal 6 beneficiaries of the barangay officials or personnel concerned shall be entitled to twice 7 the death and burial indemnity provided herein. 8 Sec. 11. Civil Service Eligibility. - Qualified barangay officials and personnel shall be 9 conferred with the appropriate civil service eligibility in accordance with existing laws, 10 rules and regulations. 11 Sec. 12. Legal Indemnification. - Barangay officials and personnel shall be entitied to an equitable legal indemnification package in the form of legal assistance and other 13 forms of legal protection and indemnification for all legal costs and expenses reasonably incurred in any administrative, civil, or criminal action, suit or proceeding 15 to which they have been made a party by reason of the performance of their official functions or duties, unless they are finally adjudged in such action or proceeding to 17 be guilty of an offense.

Sec. 13. Employment Preference in Agencies and Instrumentalities of Government. -

Qualified barangay personnel shall be accorded with preferential treatment in employment with national government agencies, local government units, or government-owned or -controlled corporations, subject to the minimum standards and guidelines prescribed by the CSC, and in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. TITLE 111 FINAL PROVISIONS

1 Sec. 14. Appropriations. - The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act shall 2 be sourced from available national and local government funds. 3 The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in coordination with the 4 Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of 5 Finance (DOF), shall issue the necessary guidelines to: (a) Identify barangays with insufficient funds; (b) Establish criteria for national government subsidy; and (c) Ensure the equitable and efficient implementation of the standardized salary scheme. 10 An initial Barangay Personnel Compensation Adjustment Fund (BPCAF) shall be 11 included in the annual General Appropriations Act to assist barangays in the transition. 12 City or municipal governments may also extend financial assistance to their 13 component barangays. 14 Sec. 15. Consistency with the Local Government Code. - The implementation of this 15 Act shall be consistent with Section 331(b) of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, which limits barangay appropriations to the income certified as collectible by the city 17 or municipal treasurer. 18 Barangays unable to comply with the provisions of this Act due to insufficient 19 resources may seek assistance from the national government through the BPCAF 20 Barangay Personnel Compensation Adjustment Fund or other subsidy mechanisms, subject to the guidelines of the DBM, DILG, and DOF.

Sec. 16. Registry System for Barangay Officials and Personnel. - The Department of

the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall develop, maintain and update a registry system for barangay officials and personnel to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. The registry system shall be the basis for the release of appropriations for the payment of salaries to barangay officials and personnel as provided in Section 5 of this Act, and the remittance of mandatory contributions to 28 GSIS, PhilHealth and PagIBIG Fund as provided in Sections 6, 7, and 8 of this Act.

1 Sec. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - DILG, in coordination with the 2 Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance (DOF), Civil 3 Service Commission (CSC), Liga ng mga Barangay, and other concerned government 4 agencies, promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this Act within 5 thirty (30) days from its effectivity. 6 The IRR shall include, but not be limited to, the guidelines and mechanisms necessary 7 to operationalize the funding support, position classification, benefit entitlements, and transition measures outlined in this Act. 9 Sec. 18. Separability Clause. - If any provision, section or part of this Act shall be 10 declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair any other provisions, sections or parts hereof.

Sec. 19. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, issuances, and

rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with this 14 Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 15 Sec. 20. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 16 in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,