Capitol Distributes Cash Incentives to Camotes Barangay Volunteers

Barangay volunteers of Camotes Island on Tuesday receive a holiday gift from Cebu Provincial Government.

Cebu Governor Hilario P. Davide III, along with Vice Governor Agnes A. Magpale and 5th District Representative Jude Sybico led the distribution of cash incentives to almost 300 barangay tanods and community volunteers each from Tudela and Pilar towns.

Conchita Lumangtad, 48-year-old health worker of Brgy. General, Tudela, Camotes Island has been a health worker since 1989.

She said this is the first time that she received the incentives before Christmas since the program started.

“Makatabang gyud ug dako kining nadawat namo sa among pamilya. Naa gyuy media noche, salamat kaayo (This incentive is a big help to my family. Thank you very much, we can have media noche this Christmas), she expressed.

Barangay tanods receive P1, 500 each while barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, animal health aides, and day care center workers (DCCWs) receive P2, 400 each.

To recall, barangay workers and volunteers received their cash incentives for 2013 early this year.

“It got delayed because we just assumed office and we still checked Capitol’s finances. By April to June, we were finally able to distribute. At the same time, we promised to give out the 2014 incentives by December,” said Davide.

Incentives distribution also met a glitch with the Commission on Audit, which contributed to the delay. But Davide assured the problem was already solved.

“It’s alright now. We said (to COA) that what we are distributing is not a salary regularly received by recipients but an incentive to be given once a year,” Davide said.

The governor also shared that Capitol plans to increase the incentives soon.

However, he clarified that such increase will depend on the available funds of the provincial government.

Distribution of 2014 incentives for other towns of Cebu is scheduled for the whole month of December.

Vice governor Agnes Magpale assured all recipients that they will receive their incentives within the year.

(www.cebu.gov.ph)