MANILA — Beneficiaries of deceased barangay officials can expect less hassle settlement of death and burial claims now that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has made the processing online.
DILG Officer-in-Charge Secretary Eduardo M. Año has issued revised rules and regulations to facilitate an interactive online processing of death benefits through the Barangay Information System (BIS), a system that gathers, stores, and maintains data on barangays accessible at www.intranet.dilg.gov.ph.
A list of deceased barangay officials, which is a basic requirement of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for fund allocation, is generated from the system.
“The DILG is conscientious in doing its role in providing the benefits authorized by law to the beneficiaries of deceased barangay officials who served their communities faithfully,” Año said.
The DILG chief said for the past 16 years, the application for barangay death benefits was processed manually from the DILG Field Offices, to the DILG Regional Offices, then to DILG Central Office, and finally to the DBM for fund allocation.
“Barangay officials are the catalysts of change and guardians of peace and order at the community level. In recognition of their rendered contribution and service in barangay governance, the DILG is ensuring efficient processing and release of barangay death benefits to their beneficiaries,” he said.
Pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 115, barangay officials who died during their term of office are covered by death benefit claims nationwide.
Beneficiaries of a deceased punong barangay (chief of barangay) can receive PHP20,000 as death benefit and PHP2,000 for burial expenses.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries of a deceased member of a Sangguniang Barangay (SB), including its Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons as ex-officio members, barangay secretary, and barangay treasurer, can receive PHP10,000 as death benefit and PHP2,000 for burial expenses. (Perfecto Raymundo, Jr./PNA)
