THE POWER OF THE BARANGAYS

There is so much frenzy and campaigning now in all of the barangays in the country. Why is the position of the Barangay kapitan and Kagawads so hotly contested? Do you know that there are quite a number who would kill for this position. In the past, I had never participated in the barangay elections and so many of my friends and colleagues too; not knowing that these kapitan and kagawads play a very critical role during the national and local elections. They can make a Mayor or even a President win or lose in their barangays. These people are the ones who get and deliver the votes of their areas. When I run for congress in the last elections; it is always the kapitans that you go to first when you enter their area as a sign of respect to their position. Most of the kapitans that I met were courteous and really helped me get around but of course delivering the votes was another issue.

So it is no wonder why so many local officials from the Congressmen down to the Mayors and their Councilor support the campaign of kapitans and kagawad candidates who can help them get the votes in future elections. I know that this electoral process must be “non political” and so national and particularly local officials. However this is not the reality on the ground and we all know that.

The barangay system is what makes the Philippines the community oriented country of the world. The core LGU (Local Government Unit) of the Philippines is the barangay and they are governed by the Kapitan and kagawads (council) who are elected into office every three years by popular vote of the registered voters.

Barangays are further subdivided into smaller areas called Puroks or Zone. A sitio is a territorial enclave inside a barangay, especially in rural areas. As of today , there are around 48,000 barangays all over the country.

Powers of Barangay
What are the powers of the barangay? The 1991 Local Government Code is one of the landmark legislations ever passed in Philippine Congress during Pres. Cory Aquino's term. Basically, this decentralization law has three features: it devolves power, authority, and growth (in a grand effort to restore democracy lost during the Marcos years). 


Decentralization among different levels of local gov’t units (LGUs) from provincial to barangay varies to certain degrees. On the whole, the barangays implement municipal ordinances.

The Code also gave the following responsibilities to the barangays. These Barangays are responsible to provide
 support services for agricultural through a distribution system for agricultural and fishery inputs and the operation of agri and fishery produce collection and buying stations; and health and social welfare services, through the maintenance of barangay health and daycare centrers. These will also include service and facilities related to general hygiene and sanitation, and solid/ garbage waste collection. They are also tasked to administer the barangay court. They are on top of the maintenance of barangay roads, bridges and water supply systems and infrastructure facilities such as multi-purpose halls, pavements, plaza, sports complex; satellite public market. Their power may also include maintenance of barangay peace and order from doing though they are not allowd to carry fire arms.


Sources of Revenues of Barangays

Where do barangays get their revenues or sources of income? They have 
 the power to collect collect taxes and this includes
 : taxes on stores or retailers with fixed businesses with gross sales receipts of P50,000 or less 
; service fees or charges for services rendered in connection to regulation or use of barangay owned properties such as dryers; 
 fee for issuance of barangay clearance for any business located or 
conducted within the barangay ; fees for commercial breeding of fighting cocks 
cockfights and cockpits 
; places of recreation with admission fess 
; billboards and signboards 
 and community tax (P5.00)
Local governments have their shares in the national internal revenue taxes, representing 40 per cent of the total internal revenue collections, based on the third preceding year . However, there is at present a bill pending in congress to increase these shares to 50 per cent. The regional distribution of the Internal Revenue Allotment to local governments is as follows: Provinces (23 per cent), Cities (23 per cent), Municipalities (34 per cent) and Barangays (20 per cent).

The barangay share is 15 per cent of the total Real Property collection in cities and municipalities. The barangay likewise are empowered to receive contributions from the private sectors, financial institutions and the like.

The Barangay Elections is Important
Knowing all of these; it is very important that we should all go out and vote on Monday, October 25 since this is the barangay election. The leader of this smallest political unit in the communities that we live in is as important as the leader of our city. So let us all go out and vote!

(Joji Ilagan Bian is a strong and respected advocate for the development of the region. She is Chair of Joji Ilagan Foundation ( www.jojiilagancareercenter.com) ; President , Phil. Call Centers Alliance and Mindanao Tech Voc Schools Association; Mindanao Rep, Export Development Council. Email comments jojibian2@yahoo.com)