Introdiiced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a magna carta for barangays. As the basic 
political unit, the barangay serves as the primary planning and implementing 
unit of government programs, projects and activities. It is also the forum in 
which the collective views of the people in the community may be crystallized 
and considered. 
Due to the important role of barangays, it is but just that measures be 
adopted to promote their welfare and prosperity. 
This Legislative measure proposes the following: 
1. That barangay officiaIs be considered as regular government 
employees with fixed salaries, allowances, insurance, medical and 
dental coverage, retirement benefits and other fringe benefits to which 
regular government employee is entitle. 
2. Basic priorities such as regular supply of clean and potable water, 
public transportation, schools, health centers and Barangay halls, 
should be provided every barangay. 
3. Automatic release of share from national taxes; 
4. Transfer of funds to barangay for the maintenance of roads and 
bridges; 
5. Mandatory share of barangays in taxes, fees and other charges; 
6. Priority in employment. 
The approval of this is, therefore, earnestly urged. 
AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR. 


14th Congress of the Republic 
) 
of the Phiiippines 
1 
1st Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pinzentel, Jr. 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH T€E MAGNA CARTA FOR BARANGAYS 
Be it enncted by the Seiznte nnd House of Repvesentntives of the Philippines in Congress 
nssenzbled: 
I. -TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY 
AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES 
SECTION 1. Title of Act. - This Act shall be known as "The Magna Carta 
for Barangays." 
SEC. 2. Declaratioa of PoZicy. - It is the policy of the State to promote, 
develop and improve the general welfare of barangay residents, raise the 
economic and social status of barangay officials, grant every barangay, the basic 
facilities for decent, healthy and comfortable living therein and provide new 
measures that will insure its enjoyment of local autonomy to ensure the effective 
performance of its role as the primary planning and implementing unit of 
government programs, projects and activities, and as a forum in which the 


collective views of the people in the community may be crystallized and 
considered. 
SEC. 3. General Principles. - The following are the general principles of 
this Act: 
a. The national govermnent shall give more attention to the development 
of the barangay, as it is the base of this country's economy. 
b. Every barangay shall be given the authority and capability to solve its 
problems on its level. 
c. Self-help or people power shall be the guiding principle in all barangay 
development projects. 
11. - BARANGAY OFFICIALS AS REGULAR 
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES 
SEC. 4. The Barangay Officials as Regular Government Employees. - The 
punong barangay, sangguniang barangay members, the kabataang barangay 
chairman, the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer in all barangays are 
hereby declared regular government employees, and as such are entitled to fixed 
salaries, allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits 
and such otlter fringe benefits to which a regular government employee may be 
entitled to. 
SEC. 5. Salaries of Barangay Oflicials. - As soon as the appropriate steps 
and measures are undertaken by each city or municipality in coordination with 
the individual barangay involved on matters relating to the sources of fund and 
the corresponding appropriation ordinance, which in no case shall be later than 


six (6) months from the approval hereof, all barangay officials mentioned in 
paragraph 4 hereof, shall be entitled to the following fixed salaries: 
Punong Barangay - An amount equivalent to the salary of a sangguniang 
bayan member of his municipality. 
Six Sangguniang Barangay Members - An amount equivalent to eighty 
percent (80%) of the salary of a sangguniang 
bayan member of his municipality. 
Kabataang Barangay Chairman, Barangay Secretary, Barangay Treasurer - 
For each, an amount equivalent to seventy-five 
percent (75%) of the salary of a sangguniang 
bayan member of his municipality. 
1x1. - BASIC PRIORITIES IN THE BARANGAY 
SEC. 6. Drinking Water for Every Barangay. - It is the right of every 
barangay to have a regular supply of clean and potable water. To attain this goal, 
every city or municipality, as the case inay be, is hereby required to construct 
and/or maintain at least one deep well with pumping device for drawing 
drinking water to supply the needs of every one thousand residents for each 
barangay within its jurisdiction. 
SEC. 7. Transportation for Evey Barangay. - It is also the right of every 
barangay to have public transportation available at least once a day. For this 
purpose, every municipalitqr Qr city, as the case may be, should make such 
necessary representations before the appropriate government agencies to require 


public utility companies operating within its jurisdiction to provide the 
minimum means of transportation in every barangay. 
SEC. 8. Schools, Health Centers and Barangay Halls for the Barangays. - 
Every barangay is entitled to have at least one elementary school, provided that 
there shall be at least one high school for every five (5) kilometers from the 
barangay cenfer. It shall also be the right of every barangay to have one health 
center and one barangay hall. 
IV. - MEASUEES TO ASSURE THE ENJOYMENT 
OF LOCAL AUTONOMY 
SEC. 9. Automatic Release ofshare from National Taxes. - It shall be the 
duty of the National Treasury to remit automatically to the barangays every end 
of the calendar year their just share from the national taxes. 
SEC. 10. Transfer of Ftrtrds to Barangay for the Maintenance of Roads and 
Bridges. - All public funds appropriated from the national treasury for the 
maintenance of barangay roads and bridges and other similar constructions shall 
be transferred or remitted directly to the general fund of every barangay for their 
proper disposition by the barangay officials. 
SEC. 11. Mandatory Share of Barangays in All Taxes, Fees or Other 
Charges. - Twenty-five percent (25%) of all taxes collected on real property 
located within the barangay shall be considered barangay funds and shall be 
allocated in accordance with existing laws. In addition thereto, each barangay 
shall be entitled to ten percent (10%) from a11 other forms of taxes, fees, penalties, 


compromises or other charges eollected from persons residing in the barangay or 
entities whose office and/or manufacturing plant is located within the barangay. 
SEC. 12. Equitable Share of the Barangay from the Proceeds of the 
Utilization and Development of National Wealth. - For the exploitation, 
utilization and development of natural resources within its territory, Every 
barangay shall be entitled to an equitable share of the proceeds derived from. 
The amount of barangay share shall be determined by the city or municipality 
concerned after consultations with the concessionaires, the municipal or city 
officials and barangay officials, taking into account the extent of the exposure of 
the barangay residents to pollution, flood and ecological imbalance: Provided, 
however, That this equitable sharing rate for each barangay shall be resolved by 
all parties concerned not later than six (6) months from the approval of this Act. 
Revenues derived from this source shall also from part of the general fund of the 
barangay. 
V. - SUNDRY MATTERS 
SEC. 13. Scholarship Grant. - Every barangay shall sponsor at least one 
scholarship grant every year leading to any bachelor degree to be awarded by a 
committee of five persons appointed by the Sangguniang Barangay with the 
approval of the Punong Barangay after competitive examinations are given to 
applicants who should be bona fide residents of the barangay. The grant shall 
include tuition fees and all other school fees, reasonable alIowances for 
schoolbooks, supplies and transportation and other expenses as the barangay 
may deem appropriate. 


SEC. 14. Priority in Employment. - Residents in every barangay shall have 
the priority in the hiring of workers and laborers to be needed in any 
government construction or development projects within the barangay. 
SEC. 15. Cooperative Entevprise. - Cooperative enterprises in the 
barangay shall be encouraged and every barangay is directed to give full 
assistance for the establishment and organization of said enterprises and to take 
every possible effort to make cooperative undertakings a way of life in the 
barangay. 
VI. - ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT 
SEC. 16. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Department of Interior 
and Local Government shali promulgate such rules and regulations as may be 
necessary to implemenk the provisions of this Act. Rules and regulations issued 
pursuant to this Section shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in a 
national newspaper of general circulation and by such other means as the 
Secretary of Local Government deems reasonably sufficient to give interested 
parties general notice of such issuance. 
SEC. 17. Budgetary Estimates. - The Secretary of Department of Interior 
and Local Government shall submit to the Congress the necessary budgetary 
estimates to implement the provisions of this Act concerning the allowances, 
insurance, medical, dental and retirement benefits and other fringe benefits of 
barangay officials, the basic priorities in the barangays and the barangay 
scholarship grant. 


SEC. 18. Penal Provision. - Any person who shall willfully interfere with, 
restrain or coerce any barangay official or barangay resident in the exercise of his 
or their rights guaranteed by this Act or who shall in any other manner commit 
any act to defeat any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction, be 
punished by a fine of not less than five hundred pesos nor more than two 
thousand pesos, or by imprisonment or six months and one day, or both, subject 
to the discretion of the court. 
If the offender is a public official, the court shall order his dismissal from 
the government service. 
SEC. 19. Repealing Clause. - All Acts and decrees, executive orders, 
implementing rules and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 20. SeparabiZity Clause. - If any provisions of this Act are declared 
invalid, the remainder or any provisions thereof not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect. 
SEC. 21. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in two national 
newspapers of genera1 circulation. 
Approved,