Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has proposed the legislation of a PHP1,000 monthly hazard pay for all duly-appointed barangay tanod (village watchers), saying they deserve the incentive given the hazardous duty they perform in ensuring peace and order in the community.
“Malaki ang ambag ng mga barangay tanod sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan at kaligtasan ng kanilang mga nasasakupan. Sila ang nagpupuyat sa gabi at front-liner, gaya ng nasaksihan natin noong kasagsagan ng Covid-19 pandemic. Kakarampot na halaga ito kapalit ng kanilang serbisyo, sakripisyo, at pagkakawanggawa (Village watchers have a huge contribution to the maintenance of peace and safety in their jurisdiction. They keep watch at night and are the front-liners, as we have witnessed at the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This amount is too small in exchange for their service, sacrifice, and volunteerism),” Estrada said in a news release issued on Monday.
The PHP1,000 monthly hazard pay, as provided under Estrada’s Senate Bill 794, shall be initially sourced from the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, while its subsequent implementation would be included in the budgets of local government units (LGUs).
Estrada, who served as mayor of San Juan City for 30 years before getting elected as senator in 2004, noted that while barangay tanod receive the same benefits as other barangay officials, they are given a measly honoraria or allowances amounting to only about PHP600 monthly.
“Barangay tanod brigades are community workers that need protection. This proposed measure acknowledges their significant contribution in maintaining peace and order in their locality by providing them with incentives while they continue to carry out official tasks,” he said.
“As front-liners, they should receive adequate support and treatment from the government. There is no doubt that they deserve to be given such incentive,” the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development added. (PNA)