Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
 First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO 
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Barangay  tanods  can  be considered as  the  lowest  level of law enforcement
officer in the Philippines. They are frontliners in the preparation and response to
any type of atrocities, public disorders, emergencies, and even disasters or man-
made calamities that threaten the peace and order and public safety.1 However,
common experience would show that the roles that barangay tanods play go far
beyond what is required of them officially.
News stories of how a barangay tanod aided a woman in giving birth is a prime
example of the work that barangay tanods do to help out the community. Their
roles in running the barangay is indispensable since they aid in other fields, such
as  conflict  resolution.  Barangay  tanods  perform  the  roles  of  peacekeeper,
watchman, handyman, mediator, amongst many others. 
Given this, it is only fair that the services of our noble barangay tanods be
given their just and due compensation. They should formally be part of the
contingent of our barangay as employees of the government and the appropriate
benefits extended to them.
It is for these foregoing premises that the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
      ALFRED C. DELOS SANTOS
Representative, Ang Probinsyano Party-List
1 http://www.region6.dilg.gov.ph/index.php/awards/search-for-outstanding-barangay-
tanod.
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July 13, 2022
4:43 pm
1925


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
 First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO 
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
AN ACT
GRANTING  BENEFITS  AND  INCENTIVES  TO  ACCREDITED  BARANGAY
TANODS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title.— This Act shall be known as the "Magna Carta for
Barangay Tanods."
SECTION 2. Statement of Policy.— The State shall create policies for the
provision of adequate social services, promotion of full employment, a rising
standard of living, and improved quality of life for all.  It is hereby declared the
policy of the State to empower and strengthen barangay security through the
barangay  tanods  by  utilizing  them  as  frontliners  in  providing  government
services at the barangay level.  
The State acknowledges the need to adopt measures and incentive schemes to
ensure  that  barangay  tanods  employed  by  the  smallest  political  unit  of  the
government are properly compensated and protected in carrying out their official
duties and functions.  The government and all its instrumentalities shall also
recognize the rights of barangay tanods to organize themselves; to strengthen
and  systematize  their  services  for  their  community;  and  to  make venue  for
sharing  their  experiences  and  recommending  policies  and  guidelines  for  the
promotion, maintenance and advancement of their activities and services.
SECTION  3.  Definition.—  The  term  "barangay  tanod"  refers  to  all  duly
appointed members of the barangay tanod brigades which shall not exceed more
than  twenty  (20)  in  each  barangay  as  provided  by  Republic  Act  No.  7160,
otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.
SECTION 4. Registration.— In order for barangay tanods to be entitled to
benefits and incentives provided under this Act, they shall register with the
regional offices of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the
region in which they render service.  The DILG regional offices shall furnish a
copy of such registry to the DILG Central Office, which is hereby mandated to
maintain  a  national  register  of  barangay  tanods.  The  accredited  barangay
tanods shall be given appropriate proof of said accreditation.
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SECTION 5. Number of Barangay Tanods.— The DILG shall determine the
ideal ratio of barangay tanods to the number of households: provided, that the
total number of barangay tanods nationwide shall not exceed one percent (1%)
of the total population.
SECTION 6. Incentives and Benefits.— In recognition of their services, all
accredited  barangay  tanods  who  are  actively  and  regularly  performing  their
duties shall be entitled to the following incentives and benefits:
a)    Honorarium.— Honorarium shall be given by the national government for
services rendered by the Barangay Tanods covered under this Act in the amount
equivalent  to  the  existing  minimum  wage,  in  accordance  with  the  salary
schedule being implemented by the city or municipality where the barangay is
located. Said amount shall be part of the budget of the DILG for members of the
Barangay Tanod Brigades.  
b)
Hazard Allowance.— Barangay tanods in rural and urban areas, exposed
to  situations, conditions, or  factors  in the work environment or  place  where
foreseeable but unavoidable danger or risks exist which adversely endanger his
health or life and/or increase the risk of producing adverse effect on his person in
the exercise of his duties, to be validated by the proper authorities, shall be
entitled  to  hazard  allowance  in  an  amount  to  be  determined  by  the  local
government unit concerned.
b)    Subsistence Allowance.— Barangay tanods who rendered service within
the premises of isolated barangays in order to make their services within the
premises  available  at  any  and  all  times,  shall  be  entitled  to  subsistence
allowance equivalent to the meals they take in the course of their duty, which
shall be computed in accordance with prevailing circumstances as determined by
the local government unit concerned.
c)    Training Programs. — The DILG shall implement a program designed to
develop the basic skills and expertise needed for the Barangay Tanod Brigade to
perform their commitment as peace and public safety officers.  It shall include
basic orientation on the structure and organization of the barangay system of
government, as well as how their duties relate to the overall governance system.
Courses  on  crime  prevention  and  unarmed  defense  techniques,  disaster
preparedness and management, information operation as service responders,
and first aid shall also be offered.  Such program shall be credited for pre-
qualification for a security guard license or qualify the Tanod for accreditation
equivalent to civic welfare service under Republic Act No. 916.
d)
Education  and  Career  Enrichment  Programs.—  The  DILG,  in
accordance with the Department of Education, and other concerned government
agencies  and  non-government  organizations,  shall  provide  duly  accredited
barangay tanods opportunities for the following:
1) educational programs which shall recognize years of service as credits to
higher education in institutions with stepladder curricula that will entitle
them  to  upgrade  their  skills  and knowledge for  community  work  or  to
pursue further training;
2) continuing  education,  study  and  exposure  tours,  training,  grants,  field
immersion, scholarships, etc.;
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3) scholarship benefits in the form of tuition fees in state colleges, to be
granted to one child of every barangay tanod who will not be able to take
advantage of the above programs;
4) special training programs such as those on traditional medicine, disaster
preparedness  and  other  programs  that  address  emergent  community
health problems and issues; and
5) the basic education and training program shall be offered free of charge.
Local governments shall adopt a cost-sharing financing scheme with the
DILG for the Barangay Tanod Brigades for the implementation of the basic
courses depending on the income level of the concerned local government
unit.
e)    Civil Service Eligibility.— A second grade eligibility shall be granted to
barangay tanods who have rendered five (5) years continuous service as such:
provided, the total number of years served as barangay tanod shall be credited
to his/her service in computing retirement benefits.
f)    Free Legal Services.— Free legal representation and consultation services
for barangay tanods shall be immediately provided by the Public Attorneys Office
in cases of coercion, interference, and in other civil and criminal cases filed by or
against barangay tanods arising out of or in connection with the performance of
their duties as such.
g)    Preferential Access to Loans.— The DILG in coordination with other
concerned government agencies shall provide, within one hundred eighty (180)
days after the effectivity of this Act, a mechanism for access to loan services by
organized barangay tanods.  The agencies providing loan services will set aside
one percent (1%) of their loanable funds for organized barangay tanod groups
that  have  community-based  income-generating projects  in  support  of  health
programs or activities.
h) 
Retirement Pay. — Barangay Tanods shall be entitled to a lump sum
retirement pay equivalent to one (1) year honorarium to be taken from the
barangay retirement fund, provided, however, that a retiree is at least sixty (60)
years of age with a minimum of ten (10) years of service at the time of the
retirement.
i)
Other benefits.— All duly appointed members of the barangay tanod
brigades, or their equivalent, shall also have the following additional benefits:
1) Be granted insurance or other benefits during their incumbency;
2) Be entitled to a Christmas bonus of at least one month honorarium 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;
3) Be  entitled  to  free  medical  care  including  subsistence,  medicines,  and
medical attendance in any government hospital or institution; Provided,
That such hospital care shall not include surgery or surgical expenses,
medicines, X-Rays, laboratory fees, and other hospital expenses.
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SECTION  8.  Barangay  Retirement  Fund.  —  There  is  hereby  created  a
Barangay Retirement Fund (BRF) which shall be used to fund the retirement of
Barangay Tanods. The amount equivalent to one percent (1%) of the share of the
national government under Section 284 of Republic Act No. 7160 shall be used
for this purpose.
Section  9.  Non-diminution  of  Benefits. —  Nothing  in  the  Act  shall  be
construed to eliminate or in any way diminish entitlements, or other benefits
being provided to or enjoyed by the Barangay Tanod under Republic Act No.
7160, at the time of the promulgation of this Act. 
SECTION 10. Rules and Regulations.— The DILG, in cooperation with the
Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Justice,
the Civil Service Commission and other concerned government agencies and
non-government organizations, shall formulate within one hundred eighty (180)
days from its effectivity, the rules and regulations necessary to implement this
Act.
SECTION  11.  Funding.  –  The  President is  hereby  authorized  to  realign  or
transfer any item of appropriation within the Department of Interior and Local
Government and/or utilize any savings therein to carry out the purpose of this
Act.
 The  subsequent 
appropriation  shall  be  included  in  the  General
Appropriations Act and thereafter. 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause.— If any provision of this Act is declared
invalid, the remainder or any provision hereof not affected thereby shall remain
in force and effect.
SECTION 13. Repealing Clause.— All laws, decrees, executive orders  and
other  presidential issuances  which are  inconsistent  with  this  Act  are  hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SECTION 14. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved:
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