A bill has been filed at the House of Representatives granting Christmas bonuses and other incentives to barangay “tanods” in recognition of their invaluable service to maintain peace and order in our communities
House Bill (HB) 10909, authored by Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan of Bicol Saro party-list group, proposes to provide barangay tanods with this benefit, along with free legal assistance and insurance coverage.
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.
To qualify for these additional benefits, the bill states that the tanod should have rendered continuous service for at least one year in the same barangay.
HB 10909 also protects the tenure of barangay tanods. The bill states that once appointed, tanods shall not be removed or their services terminated except for causes enumerated in the barangay resolution creating the barangay tanod brigade.
Yamsuan, in his bill, also seeks to prioritize the inclusion of barangay tanods in livelihood programs initiated by either the national government or the local government units (LGUs).
“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. 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,” said Yamsuan, a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Bill seeks Christmas bonuses, free legal aid for barangay tanods.”
