PagEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH (18%) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL'No,_710

Introduced by REP. JOSE CHRISTOPHER Y. BELMONTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the 16" Congress, the bill entitled, “An Act Amending Section 393,
Paragraph (D) of Republic Act No. 7160, Otherwise Known as the Local Government
Code of 1991, Providing Funds Therefore and for Other Purposes” was originally
filed as House Bill No. 590 by this Representation. The same measure was filed in the
17% Congress as House Bill No. 446. Since its referral to the Committee on Local
Government, the bill has remained pending for committee deliberation.

The proposed measure seeks to reinforce the role of the barangay to amicably
settle disputes in the barangay level, and to ensure optimal manpower in ensuring the
safety of barangays. Barangay Public Safety Officers (BPSOs) play an important role
in this role of the barangays. They are the frontliners in anti-crime programs and
activities in the barangay, particularly where police presence is rare or scarce. In some
instances, services of the BPSO have also been tapped in disaster relief operations and
other emergency situations. Their safety is generally compromised.

Section 393, paragraph (d) of the Local Government Code provides that every
barangay jis entitled to have not more than twenty (20) barangay tanods or its
equivalent to help in maintaining peace and order in the community.

The 20 tanod cap is not realistic. In the 6 District of Quezon City, for
example, a medium-sized barangay has an average population of about 50,000. This
means that complying with the cap provided under Republict Act No. 7160 or the
Local Government Code of 1991, the ratio is 1 tanod is to 2,500 residents. Such ratio
will make it difficult, if not near impossible for the Barangay and the BPSOs to
dispense their duties properly. Often, barangays which have huge land area employ
more than what the law provides to address their actual needs in maintaining peace
and order.

To safeguard the safety of their communities, the barangays usually retain


additional personnel, which they treat as volunteers, and given only allowances.
Despite performing similar functions as the regular BPSO members. These volunteers
are not properly compensated.

It is in this light that this bill is being reintroduced to remove the 20-tanod limit
under RA No. 7160, providing a way to increase the number of BPSO’s in proportion
to the number of residents in the barangay.

In view of the foregoing reasons, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH (18) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

710

HOUSE BILL NO:

Introduced by REP. JOSE CHRISTOPHER Y. BELMONTE,

AN ACT
INCREASING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF BARANGAY PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICERS (BPSO) THEREBY AMENDING SECTION 393, PARAGRAPH (D) OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION. 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to maintain peace
and order in all localities within its territory and to provide auxiliary support to its national
police by establishing barangay public safety brigades or barangay tanods in all barangays
nationwide. It is likewise an established state policy that all peacekeeping officers, including
barangay tanods, are provided adequate means for their upkeep and protection.

SEC. 2. Original Provision. - SEC. 393, paragraph (d) provides, thus: “All duly
appointed members of the barangay tanod brigades, or their equivalent, which shall number
not more than twenty (20) in each barangay, shall be granted insurance or other benefits
during incumbency, chargeable to the barangay or the city or municipal government to which
the barangay belongs.

SEC. 3. Amendatory Clause. - SEC. 393, paragraph (d) of Republic Act Numbered
7160 is hereby amended to read, as follows:

“THERE SHALL BE APPOINTED BARANGAY PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS

(BPSO) IN EACH BARANGAY WHOSE NUMBER SHALL BE COMPUTED IN


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A SCALE OF TEN (10) BPSO MEMBERS PER ONE THOUSAND (1,000)
RESIDENTS, BUT IN NO CASE SHALL BE LESS THAN TWENTY (20)
REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AND LAND AREA OF THE
BARANGAY. THE APPOINTED BPSO MEMBERS SHALL BE GRANTED A
MANDATORY LIFE INSURANCE AND OTHER BENEFITS ENJOYED BY
CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES DURING THEIR INCUMBENCY,
CHARGEABLE TO THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY TO WHICH THEIR
BARANGAY BELONGS.”

SEC. 4. Amendment of Existing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months

following the approval of the President of this amendatory law, the Department of the Interior
and Local Government, Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service
Commission shall accordingly amend, revise, repeal or modify existing rules and regulations
to conform to the amended provision.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause - All Acts, Decrees, Executive Orders and Rules and

Regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its

publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,