Fayette C.
Riñen
CEBU, April 22 (PIA) – Over 1,000 barangay nutrition scholars from the
Visayas Region are in Cebu City for the two-day 3rd National Conference of the
Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) where one issue that will be tackled is the
demand for an increase in their monthly honorarium from local government units.
Jovita Raval, chief of
the Nutrition Information and Education Division of the National Nutrition
Council (NNC) in a press conference this morning said BNS are volunteers so
they do not receive any salary. But under PD 1569, BNS are entitled to P15
honorarium per month to be given by the municipal, city or barangay government
units.
“But PD 1569 was
issued in 1978 or over 30 years ago by the late President Marcos so the P15
amount was already big during that time,” said Raval.
Raval said the NNC is
one with the BNS in pushing for the amendment of PD 1569 to address the needs
of the BNS in today’s times.
According to Raval,
BNS are volunteers and only get minimal cash incentive depending on the availability
of funds in the municipal or barangay level. “Some BNS get P50 per month while
others get P2,500 monthly. But there are some who do not receive any honorarium
at all but still dedicate their time and services to the community,” said
Raval.
Raval said of the
42,000 BNS nationwide, less than 10 percent do not receive any incentive from
the local level.
“This is why we are
pushing for the amendment of the PD calling for a hike in honorarium which
should be uniform in all level at P5,000 a month,” said Raval.
Another issue raised
by Raval is the security of tenure for the BNS as they are very vulnerable to
being replaced after every election. “We are also calling for their security of
tenure to be included in the amendment,” she added.
Raval said Senator
Paulo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV passed the bill to amend PD 1569 recognizing the
plight of the BNS but this is still pending and has not progressed.
Rep. Mark Villar
meanwhile, in his speech told the BNS that he will support the bill to amend
the PD 1569 especially in the giving of incentives which drew loud cheers from
the participants. Villar represented his mother Sen. Cynthia Villar who was
invited to be the keynote speaker today.
“Healthy citizens are
the greatest assets any country can have” where the BNS play a critical role in
promoting health and nutrition down to the barangay level, said Villar adding
that the BNS are “lifesavers and the unsung heroes in their own way.”
(mbcn/fcr/PIA7)