Barangays

The Barangay system of the Philippines

As of June 30, 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that there are 18 regions, 82 provinces, 149 cities, 1,493 municipalities, and 42,011 barangays. The barangay system is what makes the Philippines a community-oriented country. The barangay is the core local government unit (LGU) and is the smallest government unit in the Philippines. Each barangay has a Chairman (captain) and council who are elected into office every three years by popular vote of the community’s registered voters.

The barangays are listed in each of the cities and municipalities.

You can utilize the site’s powerful and quick search engine to find the name of the barangay. If you’re not sure of the spelling, then look for the barangay by province, municipality, or city.

Cities and municipalities are listed in each province and the provinces are listed according to the region they belong to.

• Take the time to read the 76 pages of: The Local Government Code of The Philippines(Barangay)
• Another must to read is the 130 page R.A. 7160 (AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991) which was extracted from the original Republic Act 7160

• The barangay is divided into Puroks (English: District), also known as zone. It is a political subdivision of a barangay. It is the smallest unit of governance in the Philippines led by a barangay councilor appointed to lead the purok. The purok is not considered as a local government unit.
  • It is unfortunate that the Dept of Tourism(DOT) and other governmental agencies do not promote the name of the barangay. Only the name of the municipality/city or province is mentioned.
  • Even most business do not put the name of the barangay on their webpages, business cards, business letters and banners. What they seem to forget is the fact that they can’t get or renew a business license without first getting a barangay clearance. Yes even companies like PLDT, BPI, SMmall or PAL. Now that is a shame.
  • Even the president of the Philippines intentionally or unintentionally ignores the barangay. The Malacañang palace is located within a barangay. The barangay of Barangay 643, San Miguel, Manila. But the official address of Malacañang does not mention the name of Barangay 643.

Every Government Unit in the Philippines is within a Barangay. The municipal hall, city hall, the provincial capitol building, and even the Malacañang Palace where the president resides is within a Barangay.

The barangay has power and authority over its domain. The improvement of the barangay rests on the barangay officials. The barangay chairman, the barangay council and the local businessmen forge the prosperity of the barangay. Not the president of the Philippines, senate, nor congress. Not the governor of the province, not the mayor nor council of the municipality or city. Poor barangays stay poor because of weak and/or ignorant(uninformed) barangay leaders.

When roads or any infrastructure need to be built, improved or repaired, all the barangay officials have to do is make a resolution and present it to the city or municipality council. The resolution will force the city/municipal council or responsible government office to hear the legitimate demands. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”

Each city or municipality is represented by the “barangay association or federation”. The elected president of the Association of Barangay Council and the President of Kabataan (SK) association each have a seat in the City/Municipality council. Their powers are the same and equal to the elected city/municipality councilors. They are there to help lobby the demands of the barangays. They are not there just to collect a big salary and rub elbows with the regular elected city/municipality council, but to also represent the needs of the barangays.

The duties of the barangay officials are specifically written in Chapter III(Punong Barangay) and Chapter IV (The Sangguniang Barangay). Read it..

Practically anything that has to do with the barangay, the barangay officials have a say on it and most likely the authority over it. The majority of the barangay officials are not aware of their duties and power. They depend on the city council or mayor. The elected barangay officials are afraid of the mayor and city/municipality’s “Sangguniang Panlungsod”. They are in fear of being ousted or removed from office. The truth is, the “Sangguniang Panlungsod” does not have the power to remove or suspend any elected barangay officials from office. Only the COURT OF LAW can do this (judicial branch of the government). Elected public officials can’t be suspended by the DILG or the office of the president unless an official complaint has been filed, there must be proof and there must be due process. Republic Act 7160 chapter 4, Section 60. Information is power. Be informed. Do not be intimidated by the president, senator, congressman, governor, mayor, vice-mayor, or councilors. Do your job.

The control of traffic is not up to the city council or chief of police. It is controlled by the barangay. If the barangay needs traffic enforcers, the barangay can make a resolution to demand it from the city or municipality council. When the electric coop or the water district do not maintain their lines, the barangay can directly demand for the maintenance from the utility companies. No need to wait for city council.

The citizens also have the power to make demands to the barangay officials. In case the officials get blinded. Simply file an official complaint with the barangay secretary naming the Punong barangay as the respondent representing the barangay.

If the power lines are sagging, don’t go to the power company, go to the barangay office. Ask the barangay for a DEMAND resolution against the power company.

If the water lines are busted, don’t wait for the water company, go to the barangay office. Ask the barangay for a DEMAND resolution against the water company.

If the potholes in the road are not fixed, don’t wait for the The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), go to the barangay office. Ask the barangay for a DEMAND resolution against the DPWH.

Are you beginning to get the point?

Cleaning the shorelines, drainage systems, streets, rivers, and parks within your barangay is YOUR responsibility. You are accountable for this. It is not the responsibility of the City/Municipality officials. The citizens and officials of the barangay are responsible. Stop blaming others.

• BUDGET: As far as the preparation for the budget expenditures, it starts at the barangay level, then moves on to cities, municipalities, provinces and regions. The barangays need to exercise their authority. They need to put their yearly budget together for their administration and future projects. The majority of the barangays leave this job to the municipality and city. This is so wrong. Then when the budget doesn’t come or is lacking, they complain.
• The budget for the barangays does go to the City or Municipality, but simply for holding and later distribution. The city or municipality DOES NOT approve the budget. It was already approved by congress. The city or municipality simply “distributes” the approved budget.
• The bureau of internal revenue is in cahoots to subdue the barangays, municipalities and provinces. They call the rightful shares to the taxes collected as “Internal Revenue Allotment Dependency”. It is not a dependency. It is the lawful and rightful share of the LGU as specified in “TITLE III, SHARES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS IN THE PROCEEDS OF NATIONAL TAXES, CHAPTER I, Allotment of Internal Revenue Taxes, Section 284.”
• “IMPERIAL MANILA IS A MYTH!”, it does not exist anymore. The Philippine budget formulation system is not centralized. “Budgetary planning has been DECENTRALIZED since 1991”. It is the responsibility of each LGU to submit their budgetary needs for review. Failure to submit is the problem.
• DURING ELECTIONS: Where do City and Municipality politicians go to campaign? They seek the support of the Barangay officials. They plead to the barangay folks for the votes. Even the candidate for president. But after the election they ignore you. Do not ever forget the power of the barangay.

Ignorance keeps the pinoys thinking that Manila rules. Be informed, be educated and make your barangay prosper.

• Absolutely NO need for FEDERALISM. It is a ploy to give the Bangsamoro an Islamic State where the religion of Islam is financed by the Philippine government. Bangsamoro will be a HOMELAND not for all Filipinos but for only the Muslim Filipinos. It violates the constitution’s “separation of church and state“. Religion is always good for the people but it should never be embraced or financed by government. Tax exemption is not tantamount to financing. Every non-profit organization is tax-exempt.

An anti-dynasty Republic Act 10742 for the SK has been passed last January 15, 2016. This is the anti-dynasty law for SKs. Candidates “must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official, in the locality where he or she seeks to be elected, and must not have been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude.”

Last March 21, 2018 senate bill 1765 (Anti-Dynasty law) was presented to President Duterte for approval. So far the president is ignoring this bill. If he signed it on time the 2019 election year will be void of relatives running within the same LGU. So this is a wait and see as to why president Duterte refuses to sign the anti-dynasty bill.

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