EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S. B. No.
SENATE 
1544
TaiE
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 1978, then President Ferdinand E. Marcos enacted Presidential Decree No. 
1508, establishing a system of amicably settling disputes at the barangay\eNe\ without 
the need to resort to judicial resources to promote the speedy administration of justice. 
Though later repealed by Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local 
Government Code of 1991" the jurisdiction of the Katarungang Pambarangay remains 
to be very limited, specifically the provision exempting offenses punishable by 
imprisonment exceeding (one) year from Barangay Conciliation proceedings. Hence, 
instead of a possible amicable settlement, parties are rushed into filing a multitude of 
cases before the courts, thereby clogging its dockets.
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 
do not exceed two (2) years and other offenses that are often brought before members 
of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, without regard to the imposable penalty.
IMEE R. MARCOS


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1544
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 SECTION 1. Section 408 of R.A. No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"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


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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.
(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 LUPON 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.


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SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All general and special laws, acts, city charters, decrees,
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executive orders, proclamations and administrative regulations, or part or parts
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thereof which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Code are hereby
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repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of
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this Code shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof
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which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Code shall take effect on January first. Nineteen
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Hundred Ninety-Two, unless otherwise provided herein, after its complete publication 
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Approved,