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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6726 _

Introduced by REP. JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

is bill is proposed to correct an oversight in the Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government
Code of 1991. While the Local Government Code allows municipalities (Section 447, paragraph 5),
cities (Section 458, paragraph 5), and provinces (Section 468, paragraph 4) to establish and operate
vocational, technical schools and post-secondary institutions, barangays have not been granted such
authority.

This bill merely proposes to equalize the playing field between the various local government units
and allow barangays to establish and operate, if they are capacitated to do so, educational
institutions. With the advent of alternative education delivery systems and in light of the ability of
innovative barangays, there is no reason to arbitrarily limit the ability of barangays. One example
would be the Colegio de Liga ng mga Barangay of Butuan City, which delivered quality instruction
to the citizens within their jurisdiction. Rather than curtail, the Local Government Code must
enable barangays to improve the quality of life of their citizens.

For the aforementioned reasons, the passage of this bill is he

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6726

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL

AN ACT ENABLING THE AUTHORITY OF THE LIGA NG NGA BARANGAY TO
ESTABLISH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE
SECTION 495 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8553,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

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

Section 1. Section 495 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code
of 1991", is hereby amended as follows:

“Section 495. Powers, Functions and Duties of the Liga. ~ The liga shall:

(a) Give priority to programs designed for the total development of the barangays and in
consonance with the policies, programs and projects of the national government;

(b) Assist in the education of barangay residents for people's participation in local
government administration in order to promote united and concerted action to achieve
country-wide development goals;

(©) Supplement the efforts of government in creating gainful employment within the
barangay;

(a) Adopt measures to promote the welfare of barangay officials;

(c) Serve as a forum of the barangays in order to forge linkages with government and non-
governmental organizations and thereby promote the social, economic and political well
being of the barangays; [and]

(F) SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES
AND REGULATION, ESTABLISH AND PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF
VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND SIMILAR POST-SECONDARY
INSTITUTIONS; AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE RELEVANT REGULATORY
AUTHORITY AND SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS ON TUITION FEES, FIX
REASONABLE TUITION FEES AND OTHER SCHOOL CHARGES IN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTED BY THE BARANGAY; AND

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(G) [(f)] Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions which will
bring about stronger ties between barangays and promote the welfare of the barangay
inhabitants.

Section 2. Repealing Clause. ~All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules or regulations or parts thereof

inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of this Act are hereby expressly repealed, amended, or

modified accordingly.

Section 8. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.

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