Magna Carta for Barangays Act of 2025
Filed on July 7, 2025, and referred to the Committees on Local Government, Ways and Means, and Finance; it has been pending in committee since July 30, 2025, with no recorded action since December 16, 2025.
The bill addresses the welfare of barangays, which are the basic political units in the Philippines.
The bill responds to long-standing issues of under-resourced barangays and the need for better support for barangay officials.
Magna Carta for Barangays Act of 2025
The Magna Carta for Barangays Act of 2025 aims to enhance the welfare of barangays and their officials by providing them with regular government employee status, fixed salaries, and access to essential facilities and services.
Compared with current law:
Barangay officials are not recognized as regular employees.
Barangay officials will be regular government employees with fixed salaries and benefits.
Many barangays lack basic facilities.
Every barangay will have access to clean water, transportation, health centers, and barangay halls.
Barangay tanods have limited benefits.
Barangay tanods will receive honoraria, insurance, and educational benefits for their dependents.
Barangay officials will receive fixed salaries, allowances such as hazard pay and transportation allowances, and benefits including insurance, medical coverage, and retirement benefits, as stated in Sec. 4.
Source · full text✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.
Stalled: the bill has been pending in committee for over five months with no action since its organizational meeting on December 16, 2025.
No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL -7 110:09 SENATE S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR BARANGAYS EXPLANATORY NOTE The barangay is the most basic political unit of government in the Philippines. It serves as the frontline institution that directly interacts with citizens and implements national and local government programs at the grassroots level. It functions as a vital platform where the collective voice of the community is articulated. However, despite its crucial role in community governance and public service delivery, many barangays across the country remain underserved and under- resourced, while barangay officials are often overworked, underpaid, and denied the benefits given to other public servants. This proposed measure seeks to address these long-standing concerns by establishing support mechanisms that will uplift the economic and social status of barangay officials. It grants them the benefits and privileges of regular government employees, including fixed salaries, allowances, and full access to social protection. The bill also aims to ensure that every barangay has access to basic facilities that support a decent, healthy, and comfortable standard of living. Moreover, the measure acknowledges the indispensable contributions of barangay officials by strengthening the capacity and local autonomy of barangays to
enable them to deliver essential public services more effectively. It further strengthens the role of barangay tanods by empowering the Sangguniang Barangay to determine their appropriate number and by providing them with compensation and benefits in recognition of their vital role in maintaining peace and order within their communities. In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL -7 A10:09 SENATE S. No._ Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR BARANGAYS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: ARTICLE I POLICY AND PRINCIPLES
Section 1, Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Magna Carta for
Barangays Act of 2025."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote, develop
and improve the general welfare of the barangay and its residents, raise the economic and social status of barangay officials, grant every barangay the basic facilities for decent, healthy and comfortable living, and provide new measures that will protect its enjoyment of local autonomy to ensure the effective performance of its role as the primary planning and implementing unit of government programs, projects, activities, and as a forum in which the collective views of the people in the community may be crystallized.
Sec. 3. General Principles. - The following are the general
principles of this Act:
a.) The national government shall give more attention to the development of the barangays, as they are the country's basic political units; b.) Every barangay shall be given the authority and capability to handle its concerns on its level; and с.) Self-help or people power shall be the guiding principle in all barangay development projects. ARTICLE II BARANGAY OFFICIALS
Sec. 4. Barangay Officials as Regular Government Employees. - The punong
barangay, members of the sangguniang barangay, the sangguniang kabataan chairperson, the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer in all barangays are hereby declared regular government employees, and as such, are entitled to the salary, emoluments, allowances such as hazard pay, Representation and Transportation Allowance, Personnel Economic Relief Allowance, Productivity Incentive Bonus, Clothing Allowance and 13th month pay, and other benefits such as insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and all other fringe benefits to which a regular government employee may be entitled to.
Sec. 5. Salaries of Barangay Officials.- As soon as the appropriate steps and
measures are undertaken by each city or municipality in coordination with the individual barangay involved on matters relating to the sources of fund and the corresponding appropriation ordinance, which in no case shall be later than six (6) months from the approval hereof, all barangay officials mentioned in Section 4 hereof, shall be entitled to the following fixed salaries: a.) Punong Barangay - An amount equivalent to the salary of a sangguniang bayan member of his/her municipality or city; b.) Members of the Sangguniang Barangay - An amount equivalent to eighty percent (80%) of the salary of the sangguniang bayan member of his/her municipality or city; and c.) Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson, Barangay Secretary and Barangay
Treasurer - An amount equivalent to seventy-five percent (75%) of the salary of the sangguniang bayan member of his/her municipality or city.
Sec. 6. Appointment, Selection and Benefits of Barangay Tanods. - There shall be
5 barangay tanods in every barangay who shall maintain peace and order, and enforce 6 all laws and ordinances relative to the protection of lives and properties in their respective barangays. The sangguniang barangay shall, through a resolution, determine the appropriate number of barangay tanods needed in their respective 9 barangay. The appointment and selection of barangay tanods shall be done by the Punong Barangays with the concurrence of the majority of the members of the sangguniang barangay concerned in accordance with merit and principle: Provided, That no person shall be appointed barangay tanod unless he or she is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the barangay concerned, of good moral character and of sound mind: Provided further, That patronage or partisan considerations shall not be a basis for such selection and appointment. Barangay tanods shall be appointed to a permanent status during the administration of the sangguniang barangay which appointed them. Barangay tanods shall receive the following benefits and privileges: (a) Honoraria, allowances, and such other emoluments as may be authorized by law or barangay, municipal or city ordinance in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, but in no case shall it be less than Six hundred pesos (P600.00) per month; (b) Christmas bonus of at least One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) 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; (c) Insurance coverage which shall include, but shall not be limited to temporary and permanent disability, double indemnity, accident insurance, death and burial benefits; (d) Free medical care including subsistence, medicines, and medical attendance in any government hospital or institution: Provided, That such hospital care
shall include surgery or surgical expenses, medicines, X-rays, laboratory fees, and other hospital expenses; and (e) Exemption during their incumbency from paying tuition and matriculation fees for their legitimate dependent children attending state colleges or universities. He may likewise avail of such educational benefits in a state college or university located within the province or city to which the barangay belongs. ARTICLE III BASIC PRIORITIES IN THE BARANGAY
Sec. 7. Drinking Water for Every Barangay. - It is the right of every barangay
to have a regular supply of clean and potable water. To attain this goal, every city or municipality, as the case may be, is hereby required to construct or maintain at least one (1) facility for drawing drinking water to supply the needs of every one thousand (1,000) residents for each barangay within its jurisdiction.
Sec. 8. Transportation for Every Barangay. - It is also the right of every
barangay to have public transportation available at least once a day. For this purpose, every municipality or city, as the case may be, should make such necessary representations before appropriate government agencies to require public utility companies operating primarily within its jurisdiction to provide the minimum means of transportation in every barangay.
Sec. 9. Schools. Health Centers, and Barangay Halls for the Barangays. - As far
as practicable, every barangay is entitled to have at least one (1) kindergarten and at least one (1) elementary school: Provided, That there shall be at least one high school for every five (5) kilometers from the barangay center. It shall also be the right of every barangay to have one (1) health center and one (1) barangay hall. ARTICLE IV MEASURES TO ASSURE THE ENJOYMENT OF LOCAL AUTONOMY
Sec. 10. Automatic Release of Share from National Taxes. - The share of each
2 barangay from all national taxes shall be released, without need of further action, 3 directly to the barangay treasurer.
Sec. 11. Transfer of Funds to Barangay for the Maintenance of Roads and
6 Bridges. - All public funds appropriated from the National Treasury for the maintenance of barangay roads and bridges and other similar construction works shall 8 be transferred or remitted directly to the general fund of every barangay for their proper disposition by barangay officials, subject to auditing laws, rules, and regulations.
Sec. 12. Mandatory Share of Barangays in All Taxes, Fees, or Other Charges. -
Twenty-five percent (25%) of all taxes collected on real property located within the barangay shall be considered barangay funds and shall be allocated in accordance with existing laws. In addition, thereto, each barangay shall be entitled to ten percent (10%) from all other forms of taxes, fees, penalties, compromises, or other charges collected from persons residing in the barangay or entities whose office or manufacturing plant is located within the barangay.
Sec. 13. Equitable Share of the Barangay from the Proceeds of the Utilization
and Development of National Wealth - For the exploitation, utilization, and development of natural resources within its territory, every barangay shall be entitled to an equitable share of the proceeds derived therefrom. The amount of barangay share shall be determined by the city or municipality concerned after consultations with the concessionaires, the municipal or city officials and barangay officials, taking into account the extent of the exposure of the barangay residents to pollution, flood and ecological imbalance: Provided, That, this equitable sharing rate for each barangay shall be resolved by all parties concerned not later than six (6) months from the approval of this Act. Revenues derived from this source shall also from part of the general fund of the barangay. ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS BENEFITS
Sec. 14. Scholarship Grant. - Every barangay shall sponsor at least one (1)
college scholarship grant every year to be awarded by a committee of five (5) persons appointed by the Sangguniang Barangay, with the approval of the Punong Barangay, after competitive examinations are given to applicants, who should be bona fide residents of the barangay. The grant shall include tuition fees and all other school fees, reasonable allowances for school books, supplies, transportation, and other expenses as the barangay may deem appropriate.
Sec. 15. Priority in Employment. - Residents in every barangay shall have
priority in the hiring of workers and laborers to be needed in any government construction or development project within the barangay.
Sec. 16. Cooperative Enterprise. - Cooperative enterprises in the barangay shall
be encouraged. Every barangay is directed to give full assistance for the establishment and organization of said enterprises and to take every possible effort to make cooperative undertakings a way of life in the barangay. ARTICLE VI ADMINISTRATIONAND ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 17. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of the Interior and Local
Government shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Act. Rules and regulations issued pursuant to this Section shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation and by such other means as the Secretary deems reasonably sufficient to give interested parties general notice of such issuance.
Sec. 18. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 19. Penal Provisions. - Any person who shall willfully interfere with,
restrain or coerce any barangay official or barangay resident in the exercise of his or 3 their rights guaranteed by this Act or who shall in any other manner commit any act 4 to defeat any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine 5 of not less than five hundred pesos (P500.00) nor more than two thousand pesos 6 (P2,000.00), or by imprisonment or six (6) months and one (1) day, or both, subject 7 to the discretion of the court.
Sec. 20. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is subsequently
10 declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 21. Repealing Clause. - All acts and decrees, executive orders,
implementing rules and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 22. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. Approved,
Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.