TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
25 J'JL -7 A 8 S3
SENATE
Senate Bill No.
149
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE MAGNA CARTA FOR BARANGAYS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The development of the country lies with the development of its people. No 
government policy or program, no matter how well-crafted can be called a success unless 
it would be able to reach each and every one of its constituents, up to the last individual 
in the barangay.
The barangay is the basic unit of government, the closest to its constituents and 
the first line of government service people turn to. The Local Government Code of 1991 
recognizes the important roie of the barangay as it states that: "As the basic political unit, 
the barangay serves as the primary pianning and implementing unit of government 
policies, plans, programs, projects and activities in the community, as a forum wherein 
the collective views of people may be expressed, crystalized, and considered and where 
disputes may be amicably settled."
Empowering the barangay is the key to ensuring that government policies being 
pursued for the development and progress of the country are properly implemented. It 
is through the barangay that development programs can be delivered and effectively 
reach each and every Filipino, even those in the most remote areas of the country.
This bili seeks to strengthen the barangay by providing for the Magna Carta for 
Barangays. As frontliners in the deiivery of services, barangays shall enjoy local 
autonomy through the automatic release of their funds from the national government. 
They shall likewise receive their mandatory share in the taxes, fees and charges coliected 
within their respective areas of jurisdiction, and financial support for the maintenance of 
roads and bridges within their area.
This bili aiso gives due recognition to barangay officials as regular employees of 
government with fixed salaries, allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, 
retirement benefits and such other fringe benefits for which regular employees may be 
entitled to, instead of just receiving honoraria.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill Is earnestly sought.
MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
lb
-1 A 8 S3
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE MAGNA CARTA FOR BARANGAYS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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TITLE I
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DECLARATION OF POLICY, AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Magna Carta for
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Barangays."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote, develop
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and improve the general welfare of barangay residents, raise the economic and social
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status of barangay officials, grant every barangay, the basic facilities for decent, healthy
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and comfortable living therein and provide new measures that wili ensure its enjoyment
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of local autonomy to ensure the effective performance of its role as the primary planning
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and implementing unit of government programs, projects and activities, and as a forum
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in which the collective views of the people in the community may be crystallized and
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considered.
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Sec. 3. Genera!Principles. - The following are the general principles of this Act:
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a. The national government shall give more attention to the development of the
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barangay, as it is the base of this country's economy.
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b. Every barangay shali be given the authority and capability to solve its problems
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on its level.
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c. Self-help or people power shall be the guiding principle in ali barangay
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development projects.


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TITLE II
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 employees, and as such, are entitled to fixed salaries, aiiowances, insurance, 
medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits and such other fringe benefits to which 
a regular government employee may be entitled to.
Sec. 5. Salaries of Barangay Officials. - 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 shail be later than six (6) months from the 
approval hereof, all barangay officials mentioned in paragraph 4 hereof shali be entitled 
to the following fixed salaries:
a. Punong Barangay - An amount equivalent to the salary of a sangguniang bayan 
member of his municipality;
b. Six Sangguniang Barangay Members - An amount equivalent to eighty percent 
(80%) of the saiary of a sangguniang bayan member of his municipality;
c. Kabataang Barangay Chairman, Barangay Secretary, Barangay Treasurer - For 
each, an amount equivaient to seventy-five percent (75%) of the salary of a 
sangguniang bayan member of his municipality.
TITLE III
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 drinking water. To attain this goai, every 
city and municipality, as the case may be, is hereby required to construct and/or maintain 
at least one deep well with pumping device for drawing drinking water to suppiy the 
needs of every one thousand residents for each barangay within its jurisdiction.
Sec. 7. Transportation for Every Barangay. - It is also the right of every 
barangay to have public transportation available at least once a day. For this purpose, 
every municipality or city, as the case may be, should make such necessary 
representations before the appropriate government agencies to require public utiiity 
companies operating within its jurisdiction to provide the minimum means of 
transportation in every barangay.


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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 center. 
It shall also be the right of every barangay to have one health center and one barangay 
hall.
TITLE IV
MEASURES TO ASSURE THE ENJOYMENT OF LOCAL AUTONOMY
Sec. 9. Automatic Release of Share 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 Fund 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 the proper disposition by the 
barangay officials.
Sec. 11. Mandatory Share of Barangays in AH 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 all other forms of taxes, fees, penalties, compromises or other 
charges collected from persons residing in the barangay or entities whose offices 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. - Every barangay shall be entitled 
to an equitable share of the proceeds derived from the exploitation, development and 
utilization of natural wealth within its territory. 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, food 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.


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TITLE 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 allowances 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 Enterprise. - 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.
TITLE VI
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 16. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Department of Interior and 
Local Government shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to 
implement 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. Pena!Provision. - Any person who shall willfully interfere with, restrain 
or coerce any barangay official or barangay resident in the exercise of his or her 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 (P500.00) nor more than Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00), or by 
imprisonment of six months and one day, or both, subject to the discretion of the court.


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If the offender is a public official, the court shall order his dismissal from the government
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service.
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Sec. 19. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 20. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or
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other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
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or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 21. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in 
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Approved,