The problem of barangay officials in the city on meager honoraria will be addressed if the long-time call for the merger of the city’s 128 barangays is realized.

City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said that although the move to reduce the number of Baguio barangays did not materialize in time for the elections tomorrow, May 14, the campaign for the merger will continue.

Domogan said the merger of barangays would address the concerns of a lot of village officials receiving meager allowances.

He said if barangays are merged, the Internal Revenue Allotment of barangays and the honoraria of their officials and peacekeeping forces or tanods will also increase.

“If we can reduce the number of barangays to 40 or 45, the problem on benefits, honorarium, and allowances of barangay officials and tanod will be addressed because their IRA will also increase,” he said.

The budget of barangays depends on the land area, population, and income.

Councilor Michael Lawana, president of the Association of Barangay Councils, said the honoraria of barangay officials depend on their IRA.

On the average, a punong barangay receives P6,000 a month while a council member or kagawad receives P5,800, according to Lawana.

Officials in barangays with larger IRA allocations receive  higher honoraria.

Lawana said the IRA of majority of barangays in Baguio ranges from P2.3 million to P3M, except for larger barangays, such as Irisan or Camp 7 that have bigger IRA allocation.

Barangays in the central business district have bigger IRA allocations even if their land area and population is small because they have bigger income from the business establishments operating in their jurisdiction.

Domogan said if barangays are merged, especially those that do not meet the minimum number of residents, which is 5,000, the problems on meager budget allocation and meager honoraria of officials will be addressed.

Had the merger pushed through before the barangay and SK polls this year, residents would be choosing their officials based on the merged barangays.

Domogan said the merger is a continuing homework and the passage of an ordinance will suffice as basis to make it happen.