MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has enjoined all Sangguniang Barangays to create a social assistance program for officials and employees this Yuletide season.
Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 99 last week, a copy of which was released to the media on Monday.
In his order, the President tasked the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Budget and Management to jointly issue the appropriate guidelines to effectively carry out and implement the Program.
“Barangay officials and functionaries are at the forefront in the delivery of essential and basic government services, such as healthcare, social welfare, agricultural support, settlement of disputes, peace, and order, as well as the promotion of the general interest of the community,” the EO stated.
“The yuletide season is an opportune time to establish, such measures or programs for the economic empowerment of barangay officials and functionaries, in recognition of their valuable and meaningful service that effect genuine and positive change in their respective communities, consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Code,” it added.
The Yuletide Social Assistance Program of the barangays shall be charged against their respective available funds, subject to Section 321 and 323 of the Local Government Code, as well as existing budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulation
For the succeeding years, the DILG, in consultation with the DBM, will have to study and propose measures for the provision of social assistance to qualified barangay officials and functionaries, as well as identify funding sources./PN
