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WHEREAS, Section 393(b)(2) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7160 or the "Local Government Code of 1 991," provides that officials of the barangay, which include the punong barangay, the sangguniang barangay members, the barangay secretary, and the barangay treasurer, who die during their term of office shall be covered by death benefits in accordance with RA No. 6942 or "An Act Increasing the insurance Benefits of Local Government Officials and Providing Funds Therefor";

WHEREAS, EO No. 115 authorizes the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to determine the amount and administer the payment of death benefits of barangay officials who die during their term of office, chargeable against the fund appropriated for the purpose in the General Appropriations Act (GAA);

WHEREAS, Section 16 of RA No. 8371 or the "Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997," provides that the indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) have the right to participate fully, if they so choose, at all levels of decision- making in matters which may affect their rights, lives, and destinies through procedures determined by them as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous political structures;

WHEREAS, Section 16 of RA No. 8371 further provides that the State shall ensure that ICCs/IPs shall be given mandatory representation in all policy-making bodies and other local legislative councils;

WHEREAS, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA No. 8371 and relevant issuances of the NCIP prescribe that the representatives of ICCs/IPs in all policy making bodies and in local legislative councils shall have the same privileges as the regular members of the legislative bodies and/or policy making bodies;

WHEREAS, there is a need to recognize the invaluable contribution of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) in the barangays through, among others, the grant of benefits enjoyed by similarly situated officials, pursuant to the concerted and overall efforts of the government to provide assistance to local officials; and

WHEREAS, under the General Appropriations Act to Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021, specifically the Special Provision on the Barangay Officials Death Benefits Fund. IPMRs in barangays who die during their term of office are entitled to the death and burial benefits granted to barangay officials;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

Section 1. Directive to the DILG. The DILG, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, is directed to determine such amount that is necessary to cover the payment of the death and burial benefits of IPMRs in barangays who die during their term of office, and include the same in its annual budget proposal, subject to the regular budgeting process.

Section 2. Amendment of EO No. 115 (s. 2002). EO No. 115 is hereby amended accordingly. All other provisions of EO No. 115 not modified by the foregoing shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 3. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 18th day of June , in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-One.

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

By the President:

(SGD.) SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA
Executive Secretary