BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance setting the guidelines in the appointment, reappointment, and termination of barangay volunteer workers, prescribing their functions and for other purposes.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Elaine D. Sembrano declared that it will be a policy of the City government to protect and promote the rights and welfare of barangay volunteer workers to enhance their capabilities to be effective as well as efficient partners in community development in addition to the furtherance of their privileges provided for by existing laws and local ordinances.
The ordinance will cover all barangay volunteer workers, particularly barangay health workers, barangay nutrition action officers, barangay nutrition scholars, district health and sanitation team members and barangay day care workers.
Under the proposed ordinance, all the city’s 128 barangays shall be required to have at least one barangay health worker, one barangay nutrition scholar, and one nutrition action officer.
It added the appointment of additional barangay volunteer workers shall be subject to the approval of the city department or office to where the barangay volunteer worker will be endorsed, taking into account the necessity and fund requirement to support such additional barangay volunteer worker.
However, if the barangay can provide for the fund and necessary support to the additional barangay volunteer workers, the manner of appointment shall be pursuant to the provisions of the local legislative measure.
The Punong Barangay shall have the authority to appoint barangay volunteer workers subject to the concurrence of the barangay council concerned. Upon unanimous concurrence by the members of the barangay council, the same appointment shall be endorsed to the Office of the City Health Services Officer In the case of barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars and barangay nutrition action officers and to the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Officer in the case of barangay day care workers.
The ordinance stated the term of a barangay volunteer worker shall be co-terminus with the term of the barangay council pursuant to Memorandum circular No. 2010-147 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government unless earlier revoked for a valid cause and without prejudice for re-appointment. And that there shall be no limit to re-appointment, provided, the general qualifications as contained in the measure will be satisfied.
The ordinance provided the submission of the required monthly or quarterly reports shall be the basis of the granting of allowances and incentives to barangay health workers, and that the said reports shall be submitted to the Office or department designated supervising officer for validation and evaluation based on existing guidelines and that the report must be satisfactory as per validation and evaluation to be considered compliant. Reports found to be below satisfactory shall be considered not submitted.
The offices of which the barangay volunteer workers are endorsed shall provide for the allowance of the barangay volunteer workers amounting to not less than P5,000 a month. The barangay shall also include in their budget the amount of P500 to augment the stipend of the volunteer worker. By Dexter A. See
