BARANGAY COUNCILORS LEAGUE ENDORSES BONGBONG MARCOS AS VP

SENATOR Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos received yet another boost to his vice presidential bid from the big organization of kagawads, or barangay councilors.

This was learned today as the Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines (BCLP), through its national president, Ricardo B. Junio, a kagawad in Valenzuela City, issued a manifesto of support for Marcos.

"BCLP-National supports Vice President Bongbong Marcos in his principle that an empowered local government translates to an empowered nation - specifically his sponsorship on the creation of Retirement Fund for barangay officials and its call to rekindle the unity of the Filipinos," the manifesto said.

In its facebook account, Junio said the league has 294,189 members nationwide.

BCLP likewise expressed support for a clean, honest and peaceful 2016 elections.

Marcos said he was elated by the outpouring of support he has been getting from the people and organizations like the BCLP as he vowed to continue bringing the message of national unity to as many people and places as possible, especially at the grassroots level.

"I am very thankful to all that have been supporting me in their own big and little ways. This only confirms my belief that the Filipino people are intelligent enough to know the truth. At ang katotohanan ay ang lagi kong sinasabi na sa pagkakaisa lamang ng mga Pilipino mai-aangat ang bansa at ang ating pamumuhay," he said.

The BCLP credited Marcos for sponsoring and pushing for Senate Bill No. 12 entitled, "An Act Providing Barangay Officials, including Barangay Tanods, Members of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Day Care Workers Retirement Benefits," which was approved by the Senate on third and final reading last December.

The measure, sponsored and defended by Marcos being the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, provides a retirement pay of P100,000 for each qualified Barangay Chairman, P80,000 for each member of Sangguniang Barangay, and P50,000 each for the Barangay Treasurer and Secretary, Barangay Tanod, Member of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, and Barangay Health and Day Care Workers.