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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quejon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2544

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Barangay, the most fundamental unit of the political system of the Philippines,
plays a central role in the formulation, evaluation, and implementation of government
policies. It is the primary administrative engines of grassroots development and its
officials are given the daunting responsibility of implementing programs, maintain
public order, and ensuring the welfare of every Filipino.

The Barangay is also quintessentially a Filipino term, originating from the word
balangay, or the kind of boat used by a group of Austronesians migrating to the
Philippines. Nowadays, the term would come to equate the word community or town.
For Filipinos who grew up in the same community for the whole of their lives, the word
“Barangay” would be equal to “home”. This is especially true for overseas Filipinos

who come home to their Barangays with much excitement and balikbayan boxes of
pasalubong.

In recognition of the importance of our Barangays, this bill aims to empower the
barangays by providing them appropriate basic services and facilities. It hopes to
ensure that barangays enjoy genuine and meaningful local autonomy and provide its
officials with benefits and privileges accorded to a regular government employee. It
further delegates the Sangguniang Barangay the determination of the proper number
of Barangay Tanods, considered to be the bastion of public order and safety, needed
in their respective barangays.


The approval of this counterpart bill to Senator Bong Go's version in the Senate is
earnestly sought.

LUIS RA’ 7 Y” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Que3on City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No. 2544

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR BARANGAYS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

ARTICLE |
POLICY AND PRINCIPLES

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta for Barangay
Act of 2019.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote, develop
and improve the general welfare of the barangay and its residents, raise the economic
and social status of barangay officials, grant every barangay the basic facilities for
decent, healthy and comfortable living, and provide new measures that will protect its
enjoyment of local autonomy to ensure the effective performance of its role as the
primary planning and implementing unit of government programs, projects, activities,

and as a forum in which the collective views of the people in the community may be
crystallized.

SECTION 3. General Principles. — The following are the general
principles of this Act:


a.) The national government shall give more attention to the development of the
barangays, as they are the country's basic political units;

b.) Every barangay shall be given the authority and capability to handle its
concerns on its level; and

c.) Self-help or people power shall be the guiding principle in all barangay
development projects.

ARTICLE Il
BARANGAY OFFICIALS

SECTION 4. Barangay Officials as Regular Government Employees. — The
punong barangay, members of the sangguniang barangay, the sangguniang kabataan
chairperson, the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer in all barangays are
hereby declared regular government employees, and as such, are entitled to the
salary, emoluments, allowances such as hazard pay, Representation and
Transportation Allowance, Personnel Economic Relief Allowance, Productivity
Incentive Bonus, Clothing Allowance and 13th month pay, and other benefits such as
insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and all other fringe
benefits to which a regular government employee may be entitled to.

SECTION 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 shall be later than six (6)
months from the approval hereof, all barangay officials mentioned in Section 4 hereof,
shall be entitled to the following fixed salaries:

a.) Punong Barangay — An amount equivalent to the salary of a sangguniang
bayan member of his/her municipality or city;

b.) Members of the Sangguniang Barangay — An amount equivalent to eighty
percent (80%) of the salary of the sangguniang bayan member of his/her
municipality or city; and

c.) Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson, Barangay Secretary and Barangay
Treasurer — An amount equivalent to seventy-five percent (75%) of the salary


of the sangguniang bayan member of his/her municipality or city.

SECTION 6. Appointment, Selection and Benefits of Barangay Tanods. - There
shall be barangay tanods in every barangay who shall maintain peace and order, and
enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the protection of lives and properties in their
respective barangays. The sangguniang barangay shall, through a resolution,
determine the appropriate number of barangay tanods needed in their respective
barangay.

The appointment and selection of barangay tanods shall be done by the Punong
Barangays with the concurrence of the majority of the members of the sangguniang
barangay concerned in accordance with merit and principle: Provided, That no person
shall be appointed barangay tanod unless he or she is a citizen of the Philippines, a
resident of the barangay concerned, of good moral character and of sound mind:
Provided further, That patronage or partisan considerations shall not be a basis for
such selection and appointment.

Barangay tanods shall be appointed to a permanent status during the
administration of the sangguniang barangay which appointed them.

Barangay tanods shall receive the following benefits and privileges:

(a) Honoraria, allowances, and such other emoluments as may be authorized
by law or barangay, municipal or city ordinance in accordance with the
provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, but in no case shall it be less than Six
hundred pesos (P600.00) per month;

(b) Christmas bonus of at least One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) each, the
funds for which shall be taken from the general fund of the barangay or from
such other funds appropriated by the national government for the purpose;

(c) Insurance coverage which shall include, but shall not be limited to temporary
and permanent disability, double indemnity, accident insurance, death and
burial benefits;

(d) Free medical care including subsistence, medicines, and medical
attendance in any government hospital or institution: Provided, That such
hospital care shall include surgery or surgical expenses, medicines, X-rays,


laboratory fees, and other hospital expenses; and

(e) Exemption during their incumbency from paying tuition and matriculation
fees for their legitimate dependent children attending state colleges or
universities. He may likewise avail of such educational benefits in a state
college or university located within the province or city to which the barangay
belongs.

ARTICLE Ill
BASIC PRIORITIES IN THE BARANGAY

SECTION 7. Drinking Water for Every Barangay. - \t 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 may be, is hereby required to construct or maintain at least
one (1) facility for drawing drinking water to supply the needs of every one thousand
(1,000) residents for each barangay within its jurisdiction.

SECTION 8. 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 appropriate government agencies to require public utility
companies operating primarily within its jurisdiction to provide the minimum means of
transportation in every barangay.

SECTION 9. Schools. Health Centers, and Barangay Halls for the Barangays. -
As far as practicable, every barangay is entitled to have at least one (1) kindergarten
and at least one (1) 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 (1) health center and one (1) barangay hall.

ARTICLE IV
MEASURES TO ASSURE THE ENJOYMENT OF LOCAL AUTONOMY

SECTION 10. Automatic Release of Share from National Taxes. - The share of
each barangay from all national taxes shall be released, without need of further action,


directly to the barangay treasurer. The national taxes to be included in the base for
computing the just share of barangays shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) The national internal revenue taxes enumerated in Section 21 of
the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, collected by the Bureau
of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs;

(b) Tariff and customs duties collected by the Bureau of Customs;

(c) 60% of the national taxes collected from the exploitation and development
of the national wealth.

(d) The remaining 40% of the national taxes collected from the exploitation and
development of the national wealth shall exclusively accrue to the host
Local Government Units pursuant to Section 290 of Republic Act No.
7160 (Local Government Code);

(e) 85% of the excise taxes collected from locally manufactured Virginia and
other tobacco products.

(f) The remaining 15% shall accrue to the special purpose funds created by
Republic Act No. 7171 and Republic Act No. 7227;

(g) The entire 50% of the national taxes collected under Sections 106, 108 and
116 of the NIRC as provided under Section 283 of the NIRC;

(h) 5% of the 25% franchise taxes given to the National Government under
Section 6 of Republic Act No. 6631 and Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6632;
and

(i) The appropriate sharing for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao under Republic Act No. 11054.

SECTION 11. Transfer of Funds 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 construction works shall
be transferred or remitted directly to the general fund of every barangay for their proper
disposition by barangay officials, subject to auditing laws, rules, and regulations.

SECTION 12. 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


shall be encouraged. 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.

ARTICLE Vi

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 office or
manufacturing plant is located within the barangay.

SECTION 13. 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 therefrom. 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, 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.

ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS BENEFITS

SECTION 14. Scholarship Grant. - Every barangay shall sponsor at least one (1)
college scholarship grant every year to be awarded by a committee of five (5) 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 school books, supplies, transportation, and other expenses
as the barangay may deem appropriate.



SECTION 22. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,