Capitol Distributes Cash Incentives in Pinamungahan, Toledo City

A 19-year old Day Care Worker (DCW) was among the first 1,243 barangay workers who received cash incentives from the provincial government this year.

Governor Hilario P. Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale started the annual distribution of incentives in the town of Pinamungahan and Toledo City last November 24.

Provincial Board Member Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez, said the Capitol is also considering the clamor of some barangay workers to give “pabaon” to their retiring members. Sanchez, who represents the third district (including Pinamungahan and Toledo), is currently the chair of the committee on budget.

Melanie Quinaging, 19, of Barangay Kandahan, Toledo City said she did not expect she would become a DCW. But then she realized she has an inclination to teach. In fact, she is now a second year education student in one of the universities in Toledo. “I was just approached by our barangay captain to work in our day care center. As days passed by, I started to like and even enjoy the work,” she said.

Barangay workers are not paid with wages. What they get is a monthly honorarium harboring around Php 500 to Php 700 per month.

Getting a barangay worker who works hard and regularly shows up for work is not easy, according to Sani Artuyo, 58, a tanod of Barangay Tubod, Toledo City.

Artuyo said he and Quinaging have the same story as how to land their jobs. He said he was being asked by his barangay captain in 1983 to serve as tanod. Some time in 2013, he left for a carpentry work in Manila.

When he came back after nine months, he was approached by his barangay captain to again offer his voluntary services for his neighborhood. Artuyo said it is a testament that their barangay captain liked what he saw from him.

The provincial officials reiterated that the incentive is recognition of their valuable services being in the front line area.

The provincial officials also said that they are in favor of the mayors’ clamor to stretch the tanod’s retirement age from 60 to 65-year old.

Each DCW and tanod was given Php 2,400 and Php 1,500, respectively. The barangay health workers and nutrition scholars also received Php 2,400 each.

In Toledo City, tanods from 20 barangays were not able to receive their cash incentives because the Capitol is yet to receive their master lists. However, Gov. Davide assured that they will get their incentives next month.

cebu.gov.ph