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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

BLLNO, 7025

INS
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Katarungang Pambarangay was conceptualized to promote the speedy
administration of justice at the barangay level, provide an initial venue for dispute
settlement, and to achieve peaceful and friendly settlements. It recognizes the Filipino
tradition of resolving conflicts through amicable settlement that saves the time and
resources of all the parties concerned, and at the same time relieves the trial courts of
cases among neighbors that can be settled through mediation at the barangay level

Katarungang Pambarangay was governed by Presidential Decree No. 1508
which was signed on June 11, 1978 and took effect on December 20, 1978. It covers
cases punishable by imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days or a fine not
exceeding Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00).

PD 1508 was repealed by Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991, which embodies the same principles and essence of PD
1508 in Sections 399-422, Chapter VII, Title |, Book Ill, and Section 515, Title |, Book
Vv.

The cases covered by the Katarungang Pambarangay was, however, expanded
by increasing the authority of the lupon to settle criminal offenses punishable by
imprisonment of not exceeding one (1) year or a fine not exceeding Five thousand
pesos (P5,000)

Related to this, the Supreme Court issued Circular No. 14-930n July 15, 1993 to
provide the “Guidelines on the Katarungang Pambarangay Conciliation Procedure to
Prevent Circumvention of the Revised Katarungang Pambarangay Law.”

The Katarungang Pambarangay has been instrumental in the promotion of
peace, order and development in our communities but it needs to be revisited to
improve the administration of justice at the barangay level, to professionalize justice
administration at the barangay level, and to provide greater fiscal and other incentives
to attain a high level of competency, integrity, independence, probity, and honesty.

In 2014, it was reported that the government has realized an estimated savings
of P3.1-billion in court litigation costs through the implementation of the barangay justice
system or Katarungang Pambarangay’.

Based on a report submitted by the Bureau of Local Government Supervision of
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the estimated savings of

‘  https:/Avww.officialgazette.gov.ph/2014/05/23/government-saves-p3-1b-through-the-
barangay-justice-system/ (Accessed on 28 September 2022)



P3,107,678,000 was determined as a result of the out-of-court settlement of a total of
327,124 disputes lodged before barangay lupons or lupong tagapamayapa throughout
the country. The estimated government cost of adjudication per case is P9,500,
according to the Supreme Court.

Hence, in view of its vital contribution in the promotion of peace, order and
development in our communities and the need to further strengthen the provision of
access to justice at the barangay level, this bill seeks to establish the Katarungang
Pambarangay Training Program along with the provision of continuing education and
provision of incentives and benefits for the members of the lupong tagapamayapa

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

fo

Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan
th District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

No, 7025

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Pinalakas na Sistema
ng Katarungang Pambarangay Act’

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to ensure that justice,
in its most tangible and immediate sense, is made easily accessible to all its citizens. In
line with the foregoing, the State recognizes the need to strengthen the government
services aimed at providing access to justice at the barangay level, which is most
immediately accessible to Filipino citizens.

SEC. 3. Katarungang Pambarangay Training Program. - There is hereby
established a Katarungang Pambarangay Training Program pursuant to the mandate of
providing support for the effective administration of justice and enforcement of human
rights and resolving and/or mediating conflict at the barangay level.

It shall be formulated and administered by the Department of Justice (DOJ), in
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other
relevant agencies.

The Program shall consist of not less than one hundred (100) hours of training on
the Revised Katarungang Pambarangay Law and its pertinent rules and guidelines as
well as alternative dispute resolution. It shall also cover lectures on applicable
substantive and procedural laws on common legal disputes including relevant topics on
human relations, psychology, sociology and other related matters.

SEC. 4. Continuing Katarungang Pambarangay Education. - The DOJ, in
coordination with the DILG and other relevant agencies, shall formulate and administer
a continuing education program for the lupong tagapamayapa consisting of sixteen (16)
hours of training that aims to deepen their mediation skills.

SEC. 5. Katarungang Pambarangay Advisory Center. - There is hereby created
in each barangay a Katarungang Pambarangay Advisory Center which is composed of
the members of the lupong tagapamayapa.

The Katarungang Pambarangay Advisory Center shall serve as an information
and referral center that may be approached by barangay residents for preliminary
inquiries regarding possible initiation of or defense against existing legal action

SEC. 6. Functions of the Katarungang Pambarangay Advisory Center. - The
Katarungang Pambarangay Advisory Center shall:


(a) Entertain queries from barangay residents regarding basic legal procedures;

(b) Provide hand-outs, pamphlets, and other pertinent educational materials that
are useful in addressing the legal concerns of the barangay residents;

(c) Advise barangay residents regarding the importance or necessity of
undergoing conciliation; and

(d) Serve as a Help Desk by referring inquiring barangay residents to proper
legal offices such as the City Prosecutor's Office, Public Attorney's Office (PAO), the
local chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), or the National Labor
Relation Commission's (NLRC) Single Entry Assistance Desk (SEAD), depending on
the assessed legal need of such resident.

SEC. 7. Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives and Benefits. - In recognition of their
services, members of the lupong tagapamayapa who adequately demonstrate the ability
to judiciously and expeditiously resolve cases referred to them shall be entitled to the
following incentives, subject to the DILG's existing system of granting economic or other
incentives:

(a) Hazard Allowance. — Lupon members in rural and urban areas, exposed to
situations, conditions, or factors in the work environment or place where foreseeable but
unavoidable danger or risks exist which adversely endanger his or her health or life
and/or increase the risk of producing adverse effect on his or her person in the exercise
of his or her duties, to be validated by the proper authorities, shall be entitled to hazard
allowance in an amount to be determined by the barangay, in consultation with the local
peace and order council of the local government unit concerned.

(b) Training, Education and Career Enrichment Programs. - The DILG, in
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education and other concerned
government agencies and non-government organizations shall provide opportunities for
the following:

(1) educational programs which shall recognize years of service at the lupon as
credits to higher education in institutions with stepladder curricula that will entitle lupon
members to upgrade their skills and knowledge for community work or to pursue further
training;

(2) continuing education, study and exposure tours, training, grants, field
immersion, scholarships, and similar activities; and

(3) scholarship benefits in the form of tuition fees in state colleges, to be granted
to one child of every lupon member who will not be able to take advantage of the above
programs.

(c) Free Legal Services - Legal representation and consultation services for
lupon members shall be immediately provided by the Public Attorney's Office or the
Provincial Legal Office or the City/Municipal Legal Office, as the case may be, in cases
of coercion, interference, and in other civil and criminal cases filed by or against lupon
members arising out of or in connection with the performance of their duties as such.

(d) Indemnification of Lupon Members. - The DOJ shall establish an equitable
indemnification package for the lupon members, which may be in the form of free legal
assistance, liability insurance, and other forms of protection and indemnification for all
cost and expenses reasonably incurred by such persons in connection with any civil or
criminal actions, suit or proceeding to which they may be, or have been made, a party
by reason of the performance of their functions or duties, unless they are finally


adjudged in such action or proceeding to be liable for gross negligence or misconduct or
grave abuse of discretion.

In the event of settlement or compromise, indemnification shall be confined only
‘on matters covered by the settlement, provided that the DOJ Secretary has determined
that the concerned lupon member did not commit gross negligence or misconduct in the
performance of his or her functions and duties.

SEC. 8. Administration; Rules and Regulations. - The DOJ, in consultation with
the DILG and concerned agencies, shall ensure the efficient and effective
implementation and administration of the provisions of this Act.

The DOd, in coordination with the DILG and concerned agencies, shall prepare
and issue the implementing rules and regulations within one ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 9. Appropriations. - Such amount as may be necessary for the effective
implementation of this law shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or
amended accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,