Local Government

• Political subdivision of a nation or state which is constituted by law

and has substantial control of local affairs, with officials elected
or otherwise locally selected.
o In the Philippines, it refers to provinces, cities, municipalities,
and barangays.

Importance of Local Governments

As local affairs can best be regulated by the people in the locality
rather than by the central authority, the grant of local autonomy to
local units is considered extremely necessary for a more efficient
local government system.

Territorial and Political Subdivisions of Local Government in the

Philippines
PROVINCE → several MUNICIPALITIES and some CITIES →
BARANGAYS

BARANGAYS

• smallest local government unit in the Philippines and is the native

Filipino term for a village, district or ward.
• In place names barangay is sometimes abbreviated as "Brgy" or
"Bgy".
• As of December 31, 2006 there are a total of 41,995 barangays all
over the Philippines.
• Conceived during the administration of President Ferdinand
Marcos, replacing the old barrios and municipal councils. The
barangays were eventually codified under the 1991
LocalGovernment Code.
History

• Historically, a barangay is a relatively small community of around

50 to 100 families.
• Came from an ancient Malayo-Polynesian boat called a balangay.
• It is commonly believed that in pre-colonial Philippines, each
original coastal “barangay” formed as a result of settlers arriving
by boat from other places in Southeast Asia.
• Upon the arrival of the Spanish, several ancient barangays were
combined to form towns.
• Every barangay within a town was headed by the cabeza de
barangay (barangay chief), who formed part of the elite ruling
class of the municipalities of Spanish Philippines. The post was at
first inherited from the first datus who became cabezas de
barangay, but then was made into an elected post after the
Spanish Regime. The primary job of the cabeza de barangay was to
collect taxes (called tribute) from the residents.
• When the Americans arrived, the term barrio went into
prominence, as the barangays were called by that name. The term
was kept for much of the twentieth century until President
Ferdinand Marcos ordered the renaming of the barrios back to
barangay.
• The municipal council was abolished upon transfer of powers to the
barangay system. Marcos used to call barangay as part of Philippine
Participatory Democracy. Most of his writings involving the New
society he envisioned praised the role of Baranganic Democracy in
nation building.
• After Edsa Revolution, and the Drafting of 1987 constitution, the
Municipal Council was restored, making the Barangay the smallest
local government in Philippine Politics.
 • The modern barangay is headed by an elected official, the
Barangay Captain, who is aided by counselors, also elected.
Barangay elections are hotly contested.
• The barangay is governed from the Barangay Hall. Barangay tanods
- male volunteers paid a nominal honorarium - help maintain law and
order in the neighborhoods throughout the Philippine islands. The
quality of the organization at barangay level is one of the
strengths of the Philippines.

Barangay Officials

The "barangay officials" is considered as a Local Governent Unit (LGU)

same as the Provicial and the Municipal Government. It is composed of:
1. a Punong Barangay
2. seven (7) Barangay Councils or Barangay Kagawad
3. a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman which is considered as a
member of the Council.

Thus, there are eight (8) members of the Legislative Council in a

barangay. Each member has its own respective committee where they
are Chairmen of those committees. The Committees are the following:
(1)Peace and Order Committee
(2)Infrastructure Committee,
(3)Education Committee,
(4)Health Committee,
(5)Agriculture Committee,
(6)Tourism Committee,
(7)Finance Committee, and
(8)Youth and Sports Committee.

There are three (3) appointed members of each committee.

Liga ng mga Barangay

The Liga ng mga Barangay, created by virtue of Section 491 of the

Local Government Code of 1991, is an organization of the almost 42,000
barangays throughout the country. It was organized primarily for the
purpose of determining the representation of the barangay in the
sanggunian and for ventilating, articulating and crystallizing issues
affecting barangay government administration and securing solutions to
these concerns.

THE VISION "A network of interdependent chapters advocating

principles and practices of governance that help build and nurture
livable, sustainable, productive, and economically vibrant local
communities”.

THE MISSION “To represent the interests and aspirations of the

country’s 41, 939 barangays and enhance their capability to effectively
govern and manage public affairs through the exchange of information,
human resource development, and technical services. ”

POWERS & FUNCTIONS

1. Support for the total development of the Barangay.
2. Continuing education for meaningful participation in community.
3. Create gainful employment through the building of enterpreneur/
investor-friendly community climate.
4. Promote the welfare of Barangay officials.
5. Forge linkages and partnerships for the well-being of the barangays.
6. Foster stronger ties between Barangay and citizen's/ people's
welfare
Programs and Benefits

Barangay Development

Barangay Development and Governance System (BADEGOS)

• Is a management aid/tool or roadmap for barangay officials, local
leaders and other development-oriented partners to provide direction
and focus to various community development initiatives, programs and
activities at the grassroots level.

• It communicates performance or service priorities and processes

where barangay officials need to produce results using the
participatory and partnership approaches to community development
and which are essential to good barangay governance.

Objective of BDGS
(1) Facilitate and support the Barangay government provision of basic
community services and the attainment of barangay goals and
objectives.
(2)Delineate specific roles, functions, and responsibilities for better
ecological/environmental protection and management.
(3)Formulate and communicate consistent and equitable/fair human
resources and human development policies, programs, and
practices.
(4)Maximize the contributions and assistance provided by the local
leaders, private sector organizations, community influential, and
community development practitioners.
(5)Increase effectiveness in the utilization of financial and human
resources required to guide development efforts.
 (6)Foster strategic partnerships between barangay officials, local
leaders, key community influential and other development groups
or institutions.

Barangay Organizationl Reform Agenda (BORA)

• a system of rationalizing barangay functions into Service Areas
and aligning and developing or allocating effort, time, and resurces
on key critical barangay needs.
• The goal is to make services products accessible or available to
citizens by mobilizing the entire barangay leadership and engaging
citizens in local governance and participating in the development
process as stakeholders.

People's Participation
When citizens are involved and regularly consulted in matters that
impact their living conditions and environment – these yield far-
reaching results in reducing/alleviating poverty.

Devolution of Secretariat Services

In line with the Liga’s mission “To represent the interest and
aspirations of the country’s 41,939 barangays and enhance their
capability to effectively govern and manage public affairs through the
exchange of information, human resource development, and technical
services”, the National Liga is embarking on the decentralization of
secretariat services from the National to Provincial/HUC Chapters,
Phase I of which is exchange of information.
Insurance Program

Gabay sa Barangay Program

I. What are the program benefits of Gabay sa Barangay?
•Lifetime membership
•Life & accident insurance coverage of P20,000.00 and P40,000.00,
respectively
•20 years coverage, beyond one's term of office
•Free BOFP Membership ID card and Certification of Coverage
•Discount privilege (Sulpicio Lines, Air Philippines, Philtranco
Services Enterprises, and in selected provinces)
•Free subscription of Barangay KONEK
•Priority in partnership programs and projects
II. Who are qualified to join Gabay?
All Barangay officials (Punong Barangay, 7 Kagawads, 1 Barangay
Secretary, 1 Barangay Treasurer, all Sangguniang Kabataan Officers)

Tanod Insurance Program

I. What are the program benefits of Tanod Insurance Program (TIP)?
• Life and accident insurance coverage of :
Any death, burial assistance = P10,000.00
If death is caused by Murder or Assault:
(P10,000.00 + P20,000.00) = P30,000.00
If death is due to Accident:
(P10,000.00 + P30,000.00) = P40,000.00
• 10 years coverage
• Individual Certificate of Insurance
• Associate Member of BOFP, Inc.
II. Who are qualified to join T.I.P.?
All barangay tanods with approved appointments
Barangay Staff Insurance Program
I. What are the program benefits of Barangay Staff Insurance
Program (B.S.I.)?
• Life and accident insurance coverage of P20,000.00 and
P40,000.00, respectively
• 10 years coverage· Individual Certificate of Insurance
• Associate Member of BOFP Inc.
II. Who are qualified to join BSI?
Duly appointed employees/staff working in or for the barangay
and paid out of barangay funds

Medical Benefits

Free Medical Care Including Subsistence, Medicines and Medical

Assistance to Barangay Officials From Philippine Heart Center
(PHC).

Free Medical Care Including Subsistence, Medicines and Medical

Assistance to Barangay Officials From The National Kidney And
Transplant Institute (NKTI).

http://www.barangay.gov.ph