Cash incentive of retiring barangay officials not feasible -- Treñas
The city government cannot afford the cash incentives being asked by retiring punong barangays and barangay kagawads.
City Mayor Jerry Treñas reiterated his pronouncement in the wake of reports that some retiring punong barangays are asking for the increase of the proposed incentive from P20,000 to P50,000 each.
There should be legal basis for the release of such retirement incentive for three-termer graduating barangay officials, the mayor further said.
Treñas added such move needs the approval of the Commission on Audit (CoA).
Apart from the legality issue, Treñas said the city has no budget for such incentives. Some 82 punong barangays are slated to end their term this October.
The proposed cash incentive for retiring barangay chairmen which is facing legal and financial obstacles was authored by Councilor Eldrid Antiquiera.
The proposal was referred to the committee on legal matters, barangay affairs and appropriation of the city council for study and recommendations.
Meanwhile, the city's P940 million proposed executive budget for 2008 will be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlungsod before the October 15 deadline. The proposed budget is not enough to cover the honorarium of contractual employees and allowances of national government employees.
Treñas confirmed there is no allocation in the proposed 2008 executive budget for the honorarium and allowances. It will affect the honorarium of traffic aides and day care workers. The allowances given to teachers, judges, prosecutors and policemen will also be affected.
The honorarium and allowances is estimated to some P3 million. However, he is confident that the matter will be resolved through hard work and prayers. Prayers should be coupled with hard work, said Treñas.
The city gets 55 percent of its fund from local revenues while 45 percent come from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).