Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez assured barangay officials in the country that apart from his initiative to provide them with Social Security System benefits and fix their term to six years, the House of Representatives is also working for the passage of a Magna Carta for Barangays, a press release from the House of Representatives said.
Last August 13, Romualdez bared before Liga ng mga Barangay during their National Congress of his advocacy to have them covered by SSS at no cost to them so they could be protected with life insurance and enjoy lifetime pension upon retirement.
Likewise, Romualdez told village officials that he filed a proposal in the House of Representatives to give them a fixed term of office of six years to insulate them from electoral concerns and allow them to focus on their responsibilities to their constituents.
He urged barangay officers to contribute their input on measures that would benefit them.
He cited the critical role village officials play in linking their communities to the national government and in delivering public services.
Earlier, Speaker Romualdez told barangay officials that the House is considering the passage of a bill mandating local government units to earmark funds for the monthly SSS premium contribution of barangay officers.
He stressed that he and his colleagues in the House are fully aware of the concerns of barangay officials on their welfare and that of their families while they are serving their communities.
Romualdez had urged barangay officials to immediately register with the SSS to enable them to enjoy the benefits provided by the pension system.
According to SSS president Rolando Macasaet, aside from the SSS insurance coverage and pension benefits, the leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives also sought the condonation of penalties for unpaid loans of village officials who are already SSS members.*
