Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Katarungang Pambarangay is an important arm at the local government level to 
promote the speedy administration of justice and help in the decongestion of cases at 
the judicial level. 
In Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", 
the jurisdiction of the Katarungang Pambarangay exempts offenses punishable by 
imprisonment exceeding (one) year from Barangay Conciliation proceedings.  
This bill seeks to expand the jurisdiction of the Katarungang Pambarangay by 
increasing the scope of its subject matter to include cases whose imposable penalty 
does not exceed two (2) years and other offenses that are often brought before 
members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, without regard to the imposable penalty such 
as libel, qualified theft, estafa, and adultery.  
Litigation at trial is usually prohibitive because of occasional delays in setting motions 
and long queues of cases. It is lengthy and the adversarial atmosphere is exhausting. 
Increasing the jurisdiction of the Katangungang Pambarangay allows the tried and 
tested ways of settling disputes peacefully and amicably to operate more effectively. 
Moreover, increasing the coverage of what can be amicably settled will prevent parties 
from rushing the filing of cases and wasting both their resources and that of the courts. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is most earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
October 20, 2022
1:53 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE FUNCTION OF THE LUPONG TAGAPAMAYAPA, THEREBY 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT No. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT CODE", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 408 of R.A. No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Section 408. Subject Matter for Amicable Settlement; Exception Thereto. — The 
lupon of each barangay shall have authority to bring together the parties actually 
residing in the same city or municipality for amicable settlement of all disputes except: 
a.
Where one party is the government, or any subdivision or instrumentality thereof;
b.
Where one party is a public officer or employee, and the dispute relates to the
performance of his official functions;
c.
Offenses punishable by imprisonment exceeding [one (1)] TWO (2) years or a
fine exceeding Five thousand pesos P5,000.00) PROVIDED, THAT THE
LUPON SHALL EXERCISE AUTHORITY OVER THE FOLLOWING CASES,
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE IMPOSABLE PENALTY AND/OR FINE:
1.
DISCOVERING SECRETS;
2.
QUALIFIED THEFT;
3.
SWINDLING (ESTAFA);
4.
FENCING (PURSUANT TO PRESIDENTAIL DECREE NO. 1612);
5.
MALICIOUS MISCHIEF;
6.
LIBEL;
7.
ADULTERY; AND
8.
CONCUBINAGE.
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d.  
Offenses where there is no private offended party; 
e.  
Where the dispute involves real properties located in different cities or 
municipalities unless the parties thereto agree to submit their differences to 
amicable settlement by an appropriate lupon; 
f.  
Disputes involving parties who actually reside in barangays of different cities or 
municipalities, except where such barangay units adjoin each other and the 
parties thereto agree to submit their differences to amicable settlement by an 
appropriate lupon [;]. PROVIDED, THAT DISPUTES INVOLVING PARTIES 
WHO ACTUALLY RESIDE IN BARANGAYS OF DIFFERENT PROVINCES, 
CITIES OR MUNICIPALITIES MAY BE BROUGHT BY THE OFFENDED 
PARTY TO THE I-UPON OF THE BARANGAY WHERE THE OFFENDING 
PARTY RESIDES; 
g.  
Such other classes of disputes which the President may determine in the interest 
of justice or upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Justice.  The court in 
which non-criminal cases not falling within the authority of the lupon under this 
Code are filed may, at any time before trial, motu proprio refer the case to the 
lupon concerned for amicable settlement. 
 
SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. — All general and special laws, acts, city charters, 
decrees, executive orders, proclamations and administrative regulations, or part or 
parts thereof which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Code are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision 
of this Code shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions 
hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after 
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
 
Approved,