By Billy Begas
Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan sought the grant of Christmas bonuses and other incentives to barangay tanods in recognition of their invaluable service in maintaining peace and order within communities.
“Members of the barangay tanod brigades serve as public safety officers in our communities. We hardly notice them as they carry out their task of keeping our homes and streets safe, especially at night when most of the community is resting,” Yamsuan said.
“They are, at times, exposed to criminal elements and other dangerous threats to the community, yet the benefits they receive are not commensurate with the risks they face every day,” added Yamsuan, a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Yamsuan has introduced House Bill 10909 seeking to provide barangay tanods with this benefit, along with free legal assistance and insurance coverage.
The measure also seeks to prioritize the inclusion of barangay tanods in livelihood programs initiated by either the national government or the local government units (LGUs).
“Maraming barangay tanod ay nalalagay sa panganib ang buhay at minsan pa nga ay napapatay dahil sa pagtupad ng kanilang mga tungkulin. Sa kabila nito, tila ba napabayaan na ang kanilang kapakanan sa ilalim ng ating mga kasalukuyang batas kung saan kakarampot ang kanilang mga benepisyo. Layunin nating mai-upgrade ang kanilang benefits para naman may sapat silang proteksyon laban sa mga posibleng panganib na maari nilang makaharap,” he added.
Under HB 10909, each qualified tanod shall be entitled to a Christmas bonus equivalent to at least half of what the punong barangay is receiving, as mandated by law or ordinance.
Barangay tanods will also be provided with free legal services from government lawyers for criminal or civil cases filed against them arising from acts committed in the performance of their duties.
The measure also specifies the insurance benefits that barangay tanods should receive, which is equivalent to three-fourths of what was provided to the punong barangay.
To qualify for the mentioned benefits, the bill states that the tanod should have rendered continuous service for at least one year in the same barangay.
