SPEAKER Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has vowed to fight for the passage of a long-overdue Magna Carta for Barangays that will finally give barangay officials the recognition, dignity, and compensation they rightfully deserve as full-fledged government employees, not volunteers.
Speaking before over two thousand local leaders during the recent Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas National Congress, Dy said the measure is one of the eight legislative priorities of the House of Representatives and a key part of his commitment to strengthen the foundations of grassroots governance.
“Muli ko pong gustong sabihin sa inyo at iparating sa bawat isa sa inyo na amin pong ipaglalaban ang Magna Carta para po sa ating mga barangay,” Dy declared, drawing applause from barangay officials.
A former barangay executive himself, Dy is the author of House Bill No. 3533, which seeks to establish the Magna Carta for Barangays and formally recognize barangay officials as regular government employees entitled to fixed salaries, full benefits, and retirement security.
The bill, along with several similar proposals, is now pending before the House Committee on Local Government.
In his speech, Dy said barangay officials bear the heaviest burdens of public service, often responding to emergencies 24/7, mediating disputes, and comforting grieving families while implementing national and local programs with limited resources and modest pay.
He noted that barangay leaders perform executive, legislative and judicial functions at once—as implementers of projects, lawmakers in their respective councils, and peacekeepers through the Lupong Tagapamayapa.
Yet despite these roles, Dy said barangay officials continue to receive token allowances instead of regular salaries.
“Hanggang ngayon, hindi po natin matawag ang ating mga sarili o ating mga barangay kung ano ba talaga ang kalagayan at katayuan ninyo sa ating gobyerno,” Dy lamented.
“Kayo ba ay talagang totohanang nagtatrabaho sa ating gobyerno o voluntary pa rin ang inyo pong mga gawain?” he asked.
Dy said the Magna Carta for Barangays is a long-overdue recognition of the sacrifices and vital contributions of barangay leaders. (Vina de Guzman)