Cebu City Council OKs increase of monthly stipend for tanods

Local

RELIEF and recognition are finally on the way for Cebu City’s barangay frontliners.

This comes as the increase in their monthly honoraria is set to officially take effect in January 2026.

The Cebu City Council has approved Ordinance No. 2786, authored by Acting Vice Mayor Winston Pepito, amending Section 4 of City Ordinance No. 2609 to grant an additional ₱1,000 to barangay tanods or Barangay Peace and Security Officers (BPSOs).

The measure was approved on October 21, 2025, marking Pepito’s first successfully passed ordinance since assuming office as acting vice mayor earlier this month.

“We are happy to announce that the ordinance submitted by Acting Vice Mayor Hon. Winston C. Pepito has been officially approved as Ordinance No. 2786,” read a Facebook post by Pepito’s office on Wednesday, October 22.

“This ordinance reaffirms the City’s strong commitment to support and uplift the welfare of our barangay frontliners, who play an essential role in maintaining peace and order within our communities.”

Under the new law, barangay tanods will now receive ₱7,000 monthly, up from their previous ₱6,000 honorarium.

Other appointed barangay workers, such as health workers, nutrition scholars, and environmental officers, will retain their current rates, which may still be subject to review in the coming year, depending on the city’s financial capacity.

The ordinance acknowledges the critical role of barangay tanods, who serve as 24/7 community peacekeepers and assist the police in crime prevention, disaster response, and law enforcement.

“Barangay tanods render twenty-four-seven service, which means they are on duty day and night. Their dedication and commitment contribute to a safer and more secure environment for all residents, hence they truly deserve to be compensated,” the ordinance stated.

Funding for the increased honorarium will be included in the city’s Annual Budget for 2026 and every year thereafter, as determined by the City Budget Office.

Pepito first promised to prioritize the tanods’ wage increase upon assuming the acting vice mayor post on October 9, following Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s temporary leave for medical treatment in the United States.

Before this recent measure, Cebu City barangay workers, including health workers, environmental officers, and garbage loaders, had already received adjustments in their subsidies, except for tanods, who remained at ₱6,000 monthly.

The amendment was thus introduced to ensure fair alignment among all barangay personnel.

The increase follows continuing calls from other barangay-based workers, such as Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), who have long appealed for higher stipends.

In August 2024, Cebu City Health Department officials proposed raising the BHW honorarium from ₱7,500 to ₱10,000, citing heavier workloads and the round-the-clock nature of their duties.

The ordinance will take effect in January 2026.(TGP)