By John Noel E. Herrera
All tanods or barangay police officers in Iloilo province are set to receive their 2022 cash incentives from the P22 million fund allocated by the provincial government.
Provincial Ordinance (PO) No. 2020-240 granted all barangay tanods of the province’s 1,721 barangays a P1,000 annual cash incentive in recognition of their voluntary service and efforts in maintaining peace and order in the community.
2nd District board member June Mondejar, who authored the ordinance, said there were times when barangay tanods put their lives at risk for the safety of the public and to maintain peace and order in the community, and giving cash incentives is only one way to show appreciation for their work.
Mondejar added that the amount was even small compared to what other village volunteer workers, like the Barangay Health Workers (BWHs), Day Care Workers, and Barangay Nutrition Scholars, receive as incentives for their work.
He clarified that because of some delays, the cash scheduled for distribution was still last year’s incentives, noting that they are supposed to receive it in December of every year, based on the ordinance.
To avoid delays and to comply with the provision of the ordinance that it should be released every December, the board member urged those in charge of processing their documents at the municipal level to prepare the requirements ahead of time.
Aside from the documentary requirements, the barangay tanods also need to plant five tree saplings that should be verified and certified by their barangay captains before they can receive their incentives.
Mondejar noted that it is one way to integrate the campaign of the provincial government on tree planting and environmental protection and to address the climate change problem.
He is also hoping that the cash incentives will increase when provincial funds allow it as the PO provides at least a P1,000 incentive annually.
The fund will be released to the representatives of every barangay as they will be in charge of the distribution of the cash incentives to the beneficiaries.
Each of the 1,721 barangays in Iloilo province has around six to 15 tanods, depending on the population of the area, according to the board member.
Data from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), indicated that there are around 15,395 barangay police officers in the province included in its master list as of July 2021.
