DATA A DAY: IRA and the barangays

MANY FILIPINOS wonder why barangay elections are so hotly contested when barangay officials are not paid any salary. What they get, at least on paper, are honoraria and allowances for their services.

But what a lot of people do not know is that a sizeable chunk of government revenues goes to the barangay. Just how much goes to the barangay? That is today’s Data a Day question.

How many percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) goes to the barangay? And in real terms, how much money was given to the barangay officials to spend this year?

For the answer to that question, just click this link, or go the PCIJ’s MoneyPolitics Online website.