Manila: Sen. Erwin Tulfo has called for the streamlined distribution of death benefits for barangay officials by transferring the budget from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo highlighted the tedious process that families of deceased barangay officials face in availing of death benefits. He noted that the current procedure could result in families receiving the PHP22,000 worth of death benefits only at the first death anniversary of the deceased official. This delay is especially pronounced for families residing on islands, as they need to navigate through multiple layers of the DILG, from provincial to central offices.

During the Senate deliberation on the proposed 2026 DBM budget, Tulfo advocated for the budget transfer to the DILG to ensure swifter distribution of benefits. Senate Finance Committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian supported Tulfo’s proposal, acknowledging that the complexity of the current process often discourages grieving families from claiming the benefits.

The death benefits, with a PHP50-million allocation under the proposed 2026 national budget, cover barangay chairmen, council members, treasurers, secretaries, the sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) members, and people’s representatives. Families of deceased barangay chairmen who die during their term are eligible for PHP22,000, while families of other barangay officials are entitled to PHP12,000 in death and burial benefits.