The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance granting cash incentives to deputized barangay enforcers of the anti-road obstruction task force of the city.
City legislators stated that each of the barangays is entitled to a 70-percent share of the collection generated from the city’s anti-road obstruction campaign while the city government will be getting 30 percent of the same.
Under the proposed ordinance, the proceeds from the share of the barangay shall be placed in a trust fund, specifically intended to defray expenses and operationalize activities of the task force in the various barangays and that the expenses shall include but are not limited to cost of inspection and enforcement by the deputized enforcers, including allowances for meals and transportation; cost of regular or periodic meetings of the barangay officials and deputized enforcers; cost of the conduct of seminars and trainings of the deputized enforcers; cost of procurement of necessary equipment, tools, gears, and the like; incentives for deputized enforcers share from the proceeds of the penalties paid and other expenses associated with the implementation and enforcement of the anti-road obstruction operation.
The ordinance stipulated that 70 percent of the amount of the corresponding penalty paid by a violator shall be apportioned where the equivalent of 20 percent shall accrue to the deputized enforcer who did the apprehension as an incentive; the remainder of the proceeds from penalties collected as payment by violators, after deducting the amount of incentive that shall accrue to the deputized enforcer, shall form part of the aforesaid trust fund of the barangay.
The council claimed that deputized barangay enforcers shall secure from the City Treasury Office the traffic citation ticket they are authorized to issue to violators, while the barangay council is empowered to determine how the trust fund will be utilized in furtherance of the anti-road obstruction operation subject to the usual government accounting and auditing procedures, provided that, the amount of deposit may be withdrawn after the City Accounting Office certifies that the amount is available and downloaded to the barangay.
Further, the utilization and disbursement of the trust fund, including the incentive, shall be supported by a barangay resolution approved by the barangay council concerned.
The council pointed out the need to establish a clear-cut policy in the utilization of the share and the grant of cash incentive to the deputized barangay enforcers as they are exposed to physical risk and health hazards as they perform their duties and responsibilities thus it is important that enforcers are granted the necessary incentives to ensure effective and efficient performance of their assigned duties and responsibilities.
Administrative Order No. 116, series of 2016, issued by former Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan created the city’s Anti-road Obstruction Task Force to implement Ordinance No. 7, series of 1984, and other related laws, rules and regulations, in conjunction with national laws, decrees and instructions, in the interest of public safety and common good. Pursuant to this, AO No. 197, series of 2016 deputized barangay-based enforcers to implement the provisions of the ordinance and other related regulations.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis
