Local Government

Local Government • Political subdivision of a nation or state which is constituted by law and has substantial control of local affairs, with officials elected or otherwise locally selected. o In the Philippines, it refers to provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays.

Importance of Local Governments As local affairs can best be regulated by the people in the locality rather than by the central authority, the grant of local autonomy to local units is considered extremely necessary for a more efficient local government system. Territorial and Political Subdivisions of Local Government in the Philippines PROVINCE → several MUNICIPALITIES and some CITIES → BARANGAYS BARANGAYS smallest local government unit in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward. • In place names barangay is sometimes abbreviated as "Brgy" or "Bgy". • As of December 31, 2006 there are a total of 41,995 barangays all over the Philippines. • Conceived during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, replacing the old barrios and municipal councils. The barangays were eventually codified under the 1991 LocalGovernment Code. •

History Historically, a barangay is a relatively small community of around 50 to 100 families. • Came from an ancient Malayo-Polynesian boat called a balangay. • It is commonly believed that in pre-colonial Philippines, each original coastal “barangay” formed as a result of settlers arriving by boat from other places in Southeast Asia. • Upon the arrival of the Spanish, several ancient barangays were combined to form towns. • Every barangay within a town was headed by the cabeza de barangay (barangay chief), who formed part of the elite ruling class of the municipalities of Spanish Philippines. The post was at first inherited from the first datus who became cabezas de barangay, but then was made into an elected post after the Spanish Regime. The primary job of the cabeza de barangay was to collect taxes (called tribute) from the residents. • When the Americans arrived, the term barrio went into prominence, as the barangays were called by that name. The term was kept for much of the twentieth century until President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the renaming of the barrios back to barangay. • The municipal council was abolished upon transfer of powers to the barangay system. Marcos used to call barangay as part of Philippine Participatory Democracy. Most of his writings involving the New society he envisioned praised the role of Baranganic Democracy in nation building. • After Edsa Revolution, and the Drafting of 1987 constitution, the Municipal Council was restored, making the Barangay the smallest local government in Philippine Politics. •

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The modern barangay is headed by an elected official, the Barangay Captain, who is aided by counselors, also elected. Barangay elections are hotly contested. The barangay is governed from the Barangay Hall. Barangay tanods - male volunteers paid a nominal honorarium - help maintain law and order in the neighborhoods throughout the Philippine islands. The quality of the organization at barangay level is one of the strengths of the Philippines.

Barangay Officials The "barangay officials" is considered as a Local Governent Unit (LGU) same as the Provicial and the Municipal Government. It is composed of: 1. a Punong Barangay 2. seven (7) Barangay Councils or Barangay Kagawad 3. a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman which is considered as a member of the Council. Thus, there are eight (8) members of the Legislative Council in a barangay. Each member has its own respective committee where they are Chairmen of those committees. The Committees are the following: (1)Peace and Order Committee (2)Infrastructure Committee, (3)Education Committee, (4)Health Committee, (5)Agriculture Committee, (6)Tourism Committee, (7)Finance Committee, and (8)Youth and Sports Committee. There are three (3) appointed members of each committee.

Liga ng mga Barangay The Liga ng mga Barangay, created by virtue of Section 491 of the Local Government Code of 1991, is an organization of the almost 42,000 barangays throughout the country. It was organized primarily for the purpose of determining the representation of the barangay in the sanggunian and for ventilating, articulating and crystallizing issues affecting barangay government administration and securing solutions to these concerns. THE VISION "A network of interdependent chapters advocating principles and practices of governance that help build and nurture livable, sustainable, productive, and economically vibrant local communities”. THE MISSION “To represent the interests and aspirations of the country’s 41, 939 barangays and enhance their capability to effectively govern and manage public affairs through the exchange of information, human resource development, and technical services. ” POWERS & FUNCTIONS 1. Support for the total development of the Barangay. 2. Continuing education for meaningful participation in community. 3. Create gainful employment through the building of enterpreneur/ investor-friendly community climate. 4. Promote the welfare of Barangay officials. 5. Forge linkages and partnerships for the well-being of the barangays. 6. Foster stronger ties between Barangay and citizen's/ people's welfare

Programs and Benefits Barangay Development Barangay Development and Governance System (BADEGOS) • Is a management aid/tool or roadmap for barangay officials, local leaders and other development-oriented partners to provide direction and focus to various community development initiatives, programs and activities at the grassroots level. • It communicates performance or service priorities and processes where barangay officials need to produce results using the participatory and partnership approaches to community development and which are essential to good barangay governance. Objective of BDGS (1)

Facilitate and support the Barangay government provision of basic community services and the attainment of barangay goals and objectives.

(2)Delineate specific roles, functions, and responsibilities for better ecological/environmental protection and management. (3)Formulate and communicate consistent and equitable/fair human resources and human development policies, programs, and practices. (4)Maximize the contributions and assistance provided by the local leaders, private sector organizations, community influential, and community development practitioners. (5)Increase effectiveness in the utilization of financial and human resources required to guide development efforts.

(6)Foster strategic partnerships between barangay officials, local leaders, key community influential and other development groups or institutions. Barangay Organizationl Reform Agenda (BORA) •

a system of rationalizing barangay functions into Service Areas and aligning and developing or allocating effort, time, and resurces on key critical barangay needs.

• The goal is to make services products accessible or available to citizens by mobilizing the entire barangay leadership and engaging citizens in local governance and participating in the development process as stakeholders. People's Participation When citizens are involved and regularly consulted in matters that impact their living conditions and environment – these yield farreaching results in reducing/alleviating poverty. Devolution of Secretariat Services In line with the Liga’s mission “To represent the interest and aspirations of the country’s 41,939 barangays and enhance their capability to effectively govern and manage public affairs through the exchange of information, human resource development, and technical services”, the National Liga is embarking on the decentralization of secretariat services from the National to Provincial/HUC Chapters, Phase I of which is exchange of information.

Insurance Program Gabay sa Barangay Program

I. What are the program benefits of Gabay sa Barangay? •Lifetime membership •Life & accident insurance coverage of P20,000.00 and P40,000.00, respectively •20 years coverage, beyond one's term of office •Free BOFP Membership ID card and Certification of Coverage •Discount privilege (Sulpicio Lines, Air Philippines, Philtranco Services Enterprises, and in selected provinces) •Free subscription of Barangay KONEK •Priority in partnership programs and projects II. Who are qualified to join Gabay? All Barangay officials (Punong Barangay, 7 Kagawads, 1 Barangay Secretary, 1 Barangay Treasurer, all Sangguniang Kabataan Officers) Tanod Insurance Program

I. What are the program benefits of Tanod Insurance Program (TIP)? • Life and accident insurance coverage of : Any death, burial assistance = P10,000.00 If death is caused by Murder or Assault: (P10,000.00 + P20,000.00) = P30,000.00 If death is due to Accident: (P10,000.00 + P30,000.00) = P40,000.00 • 10 years coverage • Individual Certificate of Insurance • Associate Member of BOFP, Inc. II. Who are qualified to join T.I.P.? All barangay tanods with approved appointments

Barangay Staff Insurance Program

I. What are the program benefits of Barangay Staff Insurance Program (B.S.I.)? • Life and accident insurance coverage of P20,000.00 and P40,000.00, respectively • 10 years coverage· Individual Certificate of Insurance • Associate Member of BOFP Inc. II. Who are qualified to join BSI? Duly appointed employees/staff working in or for the barangay and paid out of barangay funds Medical Benefits Free Medical Care Including Subsistence, Medicines and Medical Assistance to Barangay Officials From Philippine Heart Center (PHC). Free Medical Care Including Subsistence, Medicines and Medical Assistance to Barangay Officials From The National Kidney And Transplant Institute (NKTI).

http://www.barangay.gov.ph