Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.____ 
Introduced by Representative MA. VICTORIA CO-PILAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Since 1978, the Philippine government adheres to the system of amicably settling 
disputes at the barangay level. This is evidenced by the enactment of Presidential Decree 
1508 (PD 1508) signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos under which the Lupon 
Tagapamayapa was created to resolve conflicts between parties residing in the same city 
or municipality. 
Forty-six (46) years later, PD 1508 was repealed by Republic Act 7160 or the Local 
Government Code (LGC) wherein the title "Katarungang Pambarangay" (KP Law) was 
used in Chapter VII. The cases covered by the KP Law became more comprehensive due 
to the expansion of the enumerated exceptions on the subject matter for amicable 
settlement provided in Section 408. 
In item (c) of Section 408, offenses punished by imprisonment exceeding one (1) 
year or a fine exceeding five thousand (5,000) pesos is no longer covered by the 
mandatory conciliation at the barangay level. These are adjusted values from the thirty 
(30) days imprisonment and two hundred (200) pesos fine provided by PD 1508.
With this proposed measure, the fine is sought to be adjusted from 5,000 pesos to 
forty thousand (40,000) pesos in view of the enactment of Republic Act 10951 adjusting 
the amount or the value of property and damage on which a penalty is based, and the 
fines imposed under the revised penal code. The adjustment is imperative considering 
the effectiveness of the KP Law in resolving community conflicts by providing a local 
mechanism for dispute resolution. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
July 24, 2025
4:01 pm
2288


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  2288
Introduced by Representative MA. VICTORIA CO-PILAR 
AN ACT 
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EXPANDING THE CASES COVERED BY THE KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY 
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THEREBY AMENDING SECTION 408(c) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OTHERWISE 
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KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 408 (C) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local 
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Government Code of 1991 is hereby amended to read as follows:  
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 x x x 
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(c) Offenses punishable by imprisonment exceeding one (1) year or a fine
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exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) FORTY THOUSAND PESOS
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(P40,OOO.OO);
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SEC 2. Separability Clause - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid and subsisting.  
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SEC 3. Repealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
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letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.  
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SEC 4. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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