Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 6686

Introduced by Hon. Robert Ace S. Barbers

AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 386 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OR THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to amend Section 386 of Republic Act. No. 7160 or the Local Government
Code of 1991 by providing a limit on the population of a barangay in urban areas to fifteen thousand
(15,000) inhabitants as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority. All existing barangay in urban
areas with a population exceeding 15,000 inhabitants shall be reapportioned to create additional
barangays.

The Local Government Code only provides a minimum requirement of population for a
barangay to be created. As the population in the Philippines increases, the number of inhabitants in
each barangay increases as well. The population disparity between barangays can go from under
1,000 to over 200,000, especially in urban areas.

Consequently, the number of inhabitants requiring barangay assistance varies significantly.
In times of disasters and emergency situations, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, where barangay
officials are expected to be the first responders, barangays with high population density experienced
more difficulties in reaching out to their constituents. The delay in the delivery of essential services
and implementation of social amelioration benefits spelled chaos to the intended beneficiaries who
were left with the choice of either violating the quarantine rules in search of food and risk getting
infected or wait in misery and starve until the barangay finally finds time to attend to them. The
acute lack of resources of the big barangays left them no choice but to allow the people to wait in
line for days to receive relief packages or social amelioration benefits, in total disregard of the safety
requirements imposed by the government on physical distancing and wearing of face masks. It
likewise brought undue criticisms to the national government.

Thus, limiting the population barangays in urban areas will bring Great relief to both the local
government and the people. Fast and efficient delivery of essential services and orderly governance
will result. Implementation of the National ID System would Ye smoath as documentation of
barangay residents will be much faster and easier.

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

HON. ROBERT ACES. BARBERS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._6686

Introduced by Hon. Robert Ace S. Barbers

AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 386 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OR THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

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

SECTION 1. Section 386 of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991
is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 386. Requisites for Creation. —

(a) A barangay may be created out of a contiguous territory which has a population
of at least two thousand (2,000) inhabitants as certified by the [National Statistics
Office] PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY except in cities and municipalities
within Metro Manila and other metropolitan political subdivisions or in highly
urbanized cities where such territory shall have a certified population of at least
five thousand (5,000) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIFTEEN THOUSAND (15,000)
inhabitants[:]. ALL EXISTING BARANGAYS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
WITHIN METRO MANILA AND OTHER METROPOLITAN POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS OR IN HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF
MORE THAN FIFTEEN THOUSAND (15,000) INHABITANTS SHALL BE
REAPPORTIONED IN ORDER TO CREATE ADDITIONAL BARANGAYS:
Provided, That the creation thereof shall not reduce the population of the original
barangay or barangays to less than the minimum requirement prescribed herein.

To enhance the delivery of basic services in the indigenous cultural communities,

barangays may be created in such communities by an Act of Congress,

notwithstanding the above requirement.

(b) Xxx

(c) Xxx

XXX"

SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. — All laws, orders, issuances, circulars, rules and regulations
or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified,
or amended accordingly.

SECTION 3. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.