Punong Barangay

Philippines
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The Punong Barangay, commonly known as the Barangay Captain and less commonly Barangay Chairman, is the highest elected official in a barangay, the smallest of the elected administrative divisions of the Philippines. Sitios and puroks are sub-divisions of barangays but their leadership is not elected. As of September 2012, there are 42,028 barangays and therefore 42,028 barangay captains. [1]

The current position was established by the 1991 Local Government Code and is a successor to positions known variously as Cabeza de Barangay, Barrio Lieutenant, and Barrio Captain.

Along with the Barangay Kagawad, or Barangay Councilors, the captains are members of the Sangguniang Barangay, or Barangay Council and perform many official government duties. They also work informally with a number of organizations. They are viewed as the village elders. They also perform some minor judicial functions as part of Barangay Justice System, such as handling disputes between neighbors.

They are elected for three-year terms. The 2013 Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were held October 28, 2013.

Barangay captains, along with other barangay officials, get paid between 600 and 1,000 Philippine pesos a month under the Local Government Code.[2] They receive other compensation as well.

History

While the current set-up is relatively recent, the position of barangay captain as a long history dating back to pre-colonial barangays. During the Spanish era, the position was known as the Cabeza de Barangay, or "head of the barangay". The position was not elected.

At the beginning of the American Colonial Period the position was renamed Barrio Lieutenant. Under the Administrative Code of 1917, passed by the Philippine Assembly, these too were not elected but rather were appointed by and under the supervision of the city councillor for the barrio.[3] Councillors were elected at that time by electoral districts. Barrio lieutenants received no pay or other compensation.[3] The lieutenant was to assist the city councillor and his term ended when the councillor's term ended.[3]

During the American colonial period and after independence barangays were known as barrios and barangay captains were known as barrio lieutenants.

In 1991, the current position took shape as the result of the Local Government Code.

Relation to other governments

Local government hierarchy. The dashed lines emanating from the president means that the President only exercises general supervision on local government.

Here is table showing the number of provinces, municipalities, cities, and barangays in Philippines.

Type (English) Type (Filipino) Head of Administration Filipino Title Number[4]
Province Probinsya/Lalawigan Governor Gobernador 81
Municipality Munisipalidad/Bayan Mayor Alkalde 1,490
City Siyudad/Lungsod Mayor Alkalde 144
Village Barangay Barangay Chairman/Barangay Captain Punong-Barangay/Kapitan ng Barangay 42,027

References

  1. ↑ "Official Website". National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  2. ↑ Golez, Prince (26 January 2014). "GSIS coverage for brgy execs mulled". Panay News. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Administrative Code of 1917" or "ACT NO. 2657 AN ACT CONSISTING AN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE". The Official Gazette, managed and maintained by the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, Office of the President. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Philippine National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)

See also


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