The Cebu City Council has issued a strong demand for the immediate release of honoraria owed to Barangay Public Safety Officers (BPSOs), many of whom have gone without pay for nearly three months. Councilor Harold Kendrick Go filed a resolution highlighting the critical situation faced by these frontline workers.
Frontline Workers in Financial Distress
The resolution underscores the essential role BPSOs play as the primary agents of peace, order, and public safety within the city's 80 barangays. It notes that these officers perform their duties daily, often under challenging conditions, and rely on their honoraria to support their families.
The prolonged delay in payment has caused significant financial strain for several officers. One distressing case involved a BPSO who needed funds for his child's urgent medical care, illustrating the severe human impact of the administrative holdup. The council stressed that such delays are fundamentally unfair and can severely damage morale and operational performance, ultimately risking public safety.
Council Seeks Accountability and Action
The resolution identifies the Barangay Affairs Office and the Office of the City Accountant as the key offices responsible for personnel coordination and payment processing for city-funded staff, including BPSOs. Councilor Go has called on these offices to provide a full explanation for the delay.
They are required to detail the specific causes, pinpoint the exact stage in the process where the payments stalled, and name the officials responsible for processing and releasing the funds. A written report containing corrective measures and a prevention timetable must be submitted to the City Council on or before January 30, 2026.
Furthermore, the resolution urges the immediate release of all pending honoraria, subject to standard accounting rules, setting a deadline of on or before January 12, 2026.
A Recurring Problem Demands a Permanent Solution
Copies of the resolution will be sent to the Office of Mayor Nestor Archival, the City Accountant, the Barangay Affairs Office, and all barangay captains for information and action. Councilor Go emphasized that the community's protectors should not have to wait months for their hard-earned compensation.
"Our BPSOs are essential in every barangay, and it is our responsibility to ensure they are treated fairly and receive timely payment," Go stated. The issue of delayed honoraria for BPSOs is not new in Cebu City, with previous reports highlighting similar financial difficulties caused by late payments. This latest action by the council aims to resolve the current crisis and establish safeguards against future occurrences.
