The plan to merge barangays of Baguio has moved forward with the submission of a proposed ordinance, that, among others, created a committee to draft the barangay rationalization plan and set a standard salary for barangay officials and appointed barangay workers.
Authored by all members of the city council, the proposed ordinance has set the monthly salary of punong barangays at P32,321 or salary grade 14 based on Department of Budget and Management salary standardization guide.
The average monthly salary of punong barangays in Baguio based on the respective national tax allotment (formerly internal revenue allotment) share of their barangays is from P5,000 to more than P20,000.
For barangay councilmen, secretaries, and treasurers, their proposed monthly salary is P22,190 or SG 10, and P1,000 monthly honorarium for barangay tanods and members of the lupong tagapamayapa.
A special committee composed of the mayor or his representative, the vice mayor or his representative, the president of Liga ng mga Barangay, the president of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, barangay district coordinators, city assessor, city legal officer, city planning and development coordinator, and Commission on Elections will be tasked to make the final draft of the rationalization plan.
The committee will also be tasked to conduct an information campaign and organize a public consultation prior to the holding of a plebiscite to be handled by the Comelec.
In view of the devolution of national government functions to the local governments, the Department of the Interior and Local Go-vernment has recently reminded Mayor Benjamin Magalong to pursue the rationalization of barangays in order to realize a more efficient management of barangays.
From 129, the proposed number of merged barangays is less than 40.
The merger of barangays in Baguio spans around two decades but has not moved forward due to issues on boundaries, lack of funds, and allegedly, some barangay officials not wanting to be outvoted when merged with bigger and more populous barangays. – Rimaliza A. Opiña
April 25, 2024
