Magna Carta for Barangay Functionaries

Senate Difice of the Sectary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AUG -4 P1:09 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY SENATE S. No. 788 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING BARANGAY FUNCTIONARIES, DEFINING THEIR ROLES, PROVIDING FOR THEIR BENEFITS, PROFESSIONALIZATION, AND OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Barangay functionaries, such as barangay tanods, daycare workers, barangay nutrition scholars, and other community-based personnel, have long served as the often unrecognized yet essential foundation of local governance. They are the first to respond when a child needs care, when a family seeks assistance, or when a community faces risk or disorder. From delivering health services in far-flung sitios to keeping peace in barangay halls, and guiding children in daycare centers, these functionaries embody the everyday presence of government where it matters most at the level closest to the people. Despite their consistent contributions to public service, barangay functionaries remain outside the formal structure of government employment. Various resource constraints and institutional deficits experienced by local government units, mostly by 5th- and 6th- class municipalities and their barangays, as well as the low-income provinces, greatly impact the quality and quantity of services delivered. 1 1 Reyes, C. M., Tabuga, A. D., Asis, R. D., & Datu, M. B. G. (2009). Poverty reduction strategy and poverty monitoring: Philippine case (PIDS Discussion Paper Series No. 2009-37, Revised). Philippine Institute Development retrieved https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps0937_rev.pdf.

Many of these functionaries continue to receive only modest honoraria, if any, and are excluded from access to security of tenure, social protection, and opportunities for career development. While the Local Government Code of 1991 laid the foundation for barangay governance, it did not go far enough in institutionalizing the roles, responsibilities, and entitlements of these individuals who carry out the day-to-day functions of local service delivery. These functionaries are not merely support staff in their barangays. They are trusted community partners whose work is guided by strong familiarity with their communities, practical experience, and a sincere dedication to serving the needs of those around them. They understand the terrain, the families, and the pressing needs often unseen by formal systems. This bill recognizes that true, effective governance begins at the barangay. To professionalize barangay functionaries is to acknowledge their indispensable role in service delivery. It is to give them the recognition, training, protection, and compensation that reflect the value of their work. Approving this measure affirms that service at the grassroots level is not an afterthought. Barangay functionaries deserve more than token recognition. They deserve to be empowered, protected, and supported as our long-term and formal partners in nation-building. In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. LOREN LEGARDA

Sennic An effier of the secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) 25 AUG -4 P1:09 SENATE RECEIVED BY S. NO. 788 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING BARANGAY FUNCTIONARIES, DEFINING THEIR ROLES, PROVIDING FOR THEIR BENEFITS, PROFESSIONALIZATION, AND OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT, 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

" 2 Barangay Functionaries.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

recognize and uphold the essential role of barangay functionaries in advancing 5 inclusive, community-centered, and responsive governance. The State affirms that the 6 delivery of critical frontline services, such as peace and order, health and nutrition, 7 early childhood development, disaster risk reduction, and essential public utilities, 8 relies heavily on the dedication, presence, and proximity of barangay-based 9 functionaries embedded within their communities. Barangay functionaries have long stood as the first responders, implementers, and facilitators of basic public services in areas where formal systems are limited or underserved. In recognition of this, the State commits to institutionalizing their roles in the local governance framework, supporting the continuity and sustainability of their service, and addressing the historical gaps in recognition, protection, and compensation. It is further the policy of the State to adopt a phased and strategic approach to professionalizing barangay functionaries by ensuring they are equipped with

1 competency-based training, certified under relevant standards, and provided with 2 meaningful pathways for career development and regularization in the public service. 3 To this end, the State shall promote their welfare and well-being, provide access to health and social protection, and facilitate avenues for redress and representation.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms

6 shall be defined as follows: (a) "Barangay Functionaries" - refer to non-elected, non-plantilla community-based personnel designated by the barangay or local government unit (LGU) to perform recurring, essential, and official tasks in public service, peace and order, disaster response, early childhood care, health, nutrition, sanitation, utilities, or support services. These include, but are not limited to, barangay tanods, barangay nutrition scholars (BNS), daycare workers, service point officers (BSPOs), disaster responders, drivers, electricians, and utility workers; (b) "Professionalization" - refers to the process of enhancing the standards, skills, qualifications, and recognition of barangay functionaries through formal training, certification, performance evaluation, and access to development opportunities; (c) "LGU-Recognized" - refers to barangay personnel who have been designated through a barangay resolution or municipal/city ordinance, or those engaged under formal appointment, job order, or contractual arrangement, and who perform regular duties in the delivery of barangay services; and (d) "Other Barangay Functionaries" - refer to individuals engaged by the barangay or LGU to perform essential community-based services that do not fall under formally established national programs but are necessary for the day-to-day operations of the barangay. These may include, but are not limited to, barangay drivers, electricians, utility workers, maintenance personnel, and other locally designated service providers whose functions are recognized by barangay resolutions, municipal or city ordinances, or LGU-executed contracts or job orders.

Sec. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all barangay functionaries engaged,

2 designated, or recognized by LGUs to perform essential frontline and support services 3 within the barangay. These shall include, but are not limited to: a) Barangay Tanods, who assist in maintaining peace and order and community safety; b) Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), who help implement nutrition programs at the grassroots level; c) Barangay Day Care Workers, who provide early childhood care and development services; d) Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs), who support population and family planning initiatives; e) Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BRRMC) Members, who assist in disaster preparedness, response, and risk reduction activities; f) Barangay Drivers, Electricians, and Utility Personnel, who provide logistical, transportation, and maintenance support to ensure the functioning of barangay operations; g) Other similarly situated community-based personnel regularly tasked with delivering services or supporting barangay programs, as may be determined through barangay resolutions, municipal or city ordinances, or formal LGU designations. Barangay functionaries may be engaged under volunteer arrangements, job orders, contracts of service, or other locally adopted mechanisms, provided they perform recurring and officially recognized duties for or on behalf of the barangay, subject to availability of funds.

Sec. 5. Minimum Monthly Honoraria. - In recognition of the indispensable

contributions of barangay functionaries to the delivery of essential community services, the following minimum monthly honoraria shall be provided: a. Barangay Tanods - not less than Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00); b. Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) - not less than Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00);

c. Day Care Workers - not less than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00); d. Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs) - not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P2,500.00); e. Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) Members - not less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) as base monthly allowance, exclusive of additional compensation for actual deployment or special duties; and f. Other Barangay Functionaries (e.g., drivers, electricians, utility workers) - honoraria as may be determined by the local sanggunian, but in no case shall it be less than Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) per month.

Sec. 6. Benefits and Entitlements. - In addition to their honoraria, all barangay

functionaries covered under this Act shall be entitled to the following benefits, subject to the availability of funds and applicable laws: a. Transportation Allowance or provision of service transport to facilitate the performance of official duties; b. Subsistence Allowance equivalent to meals taken during official duty, with a minimum of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) per day; c. Hazard Allowance of not less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) per month for functionaries who are regularly exposed to risk in the course of their duties; d. Annual Cash Gift equivalent to one (1) month's honorarium, to be granted not later than December of each year; e. One-Time Loyalty Incentive of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) for those who have rendered at least fifteen (15) years of continuous and satisfactory service; f. Free Legal Assistance through the Public Attorney's Office for cases arising from the performance of official functions; g. Preferential Access to Livelihood Programs of government agencies and instrumentalities; and h. Insurance Coverage and, where applicable, retirement service recognition in coordination with the Government Service Insurance

System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), or relevant institutions.

Sec. 7. Periodic Review of Honoraria and Benefits. - To ensure that the

4 honoraria and benefits provided to barangay functionaries remain fair, adequate, and 5 responsive to prevailing conditions, the DILG, in coordination with the Department of 6 Budget and Management (DBM), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and other 7 relevant national government agencies, shall conduct a comprehensive review of the 8 prescribed minimum honoraria, allowances, and other benefits under this Act every 9 three (3) years from its effectivity. The review shall take into consideration, among others: a) prevailing socio-economic conditions, including inflation, cost of living, and regional wage differentials; b) the fiscal capacity of LGUs based on income classification and expenditure patterns; c) trends in national and local revenue allotments, particularly those affected by the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling; d) assessments of actual implementation and utilization of the benefits provided under this Act; and e) policy proposals or resolutions submitted by duly registered barangay functionary associations or federations at the municipal, provincial, or national level. Following the conduct of the review, the DILG shall prepare a consolidated report and policy recommendation which may include proposed adjustments to honoraria ceilings, benefit structures, or subsidy mechanisms. Such recommendations shall be submitted to Congress, the Office of the President, and the appropriate oversight agencies for possible inclusion in legislation or future General Appropriations Acts (GAA).

Sec. 8. Career Development and Certification. - To promote professionalization

and ensure quality service delivery, all barangay functionaries covered by this Act shall be given access to structured, competency-based education, training, and certification 31 programs appropriate to their assigned functions.

The DILG, in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development 2 Authority (TESDA), the CSC, and relevant national government agencies such as the 3 Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development 4 (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), and the National Nutrition Council (NNC), 5 shall jointly develop and implement a standardized training and certification framework for barangay functionaries, including core modules and sector-specific 7 specialization tracks. The training curriculum shall cover, among others: a. Basic public service ethics and protocols; b. Sector-specific technical skills (e.g., emergency response, childcare, nutrition program implementation, community safety); c. Rights and responsibilities under this Act; and d. Documentation, reporting, and accountability standards. The framework shall include blended and modular options, including mobile and digital learning formats, to ensure accessibility regardless of geographic or resource limitations. The DILG and TESDA shall establish a system for accrediting training providers and certifying completion, and shall periodically evaluate the training framework to ensure its relevance, accessibility, and effectiveness.

Sec. 9. Civil Service Eligibility. - A barangay functionary shall be eligible for sub-

professional civil service eligibility under rules to be promulgated by the CSC if he or she has: 1. Rendered at least five (5) years of continuous and satisfactory service as verified by the local government unit; 2. Successfully completed the required certification course or equivalent competency-based assessment; and 3. Been endorsed by the relevant barangay or LGU authority,

Sec. 10. National Registry. - A centralized National Barangay Functionaries

Registry shall be established and maintained by the DILG, in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), to serve as the official and authoritative database of all barangay functionaries in the country.

The Registry shall contain, at a minimum, the following information for each 2 barangay functionary: a. Full name, sex, and civil status; b. Position or designation; c. Assigned barangay and local government unit (LGU); d. Nature of engagement (e.g., volunteer, job order, contractual); e. Sectoral classification (e.g., health, safety, education, utilities); f. Dates of service and status (active/inactive); g. Training and certification history; h. Honoraria and benefits received; and i. Performance or service records, as applicable. The Registry shall be: a. Updated regularly by LGUs through their respective barangay secretaries, municipal/city human resources offices, or designated focal persons; b. Used for monitoring compliance with the provisions of this Act, including the disbursement of benefits and eligibility for career advancement; c. Interfaced with other relevant government databases, including those managed by the CSC, DBM, DOH, DSWD, DepEd, and TESDA, where applicable; and d. Protected in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 to ensure the security, confidentiality, and ethical use of personal information. The DILG shall issue the necessary guidelines for data submission, security protocols, accountability measures, and access permissions. The DICT shall provide technical assistance in developing and maintaining the system infrastructure, including user training for LGUs.

Sec. 11. Barangay Functionaries Subsidy Fund. - A Barangay Functionaries

Subsidy Fund shall be established and administered jointly by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to ensure that low-income LGUs can comply with the provisions of this Act. This Fund shall be primarily intended to support 4th, 5th, and 6th class

1 municipalities, particularly those with insufficient fiscal capacity to provide the 2 minimum honoraria, allowances, and benefits mandated under this Act. The subsidy may be used for: 1. Monthly honoraria and mandated allowances; 2. One-time cash gift and service incentive payments; 3. Capacity-building and certification-related costs; and 4. Insurance contributions, where applicable. Eligibility and prioritization for subsidy assistance shall be determined based on: a. LGU income classification and audited financial standing; b. Number of active barangay functionaries relative to LGU budget; c. Service coverage gaps, such as in remote or underserved areas; d. Compliance with reporting requirements under this Act. The DILG, in consultation with the DBM, shall issue the necessary guidelines for fund administration, including the mechanics of fund release, LGU counterpart requirements (if any), liquidation procedures, and performance benchmarks. Annual allocations for the Subsidy Fund shall be included in the GAA.

Sec. 12. Regularization Roadmap. - Every province, city, and municipality shall

develop and implement a phased Regularization Roadmap to progressively absorb qualified barangay functionaries into their respective local plantilla positions. To this end, each LGU is hereby mandated to: 1. Conduct a needs assessment and service coverage evaluation of barangay functionaries under their jurisdiction, in consultation with concerned department heads and barangay officials; 2. Identify functions and roles that are eligible and appropriate for regularization, taking into account service continuity, community reliance, and technical requirements; 3. Propose plantilla positions, subject to existing laws, civil service rules, and DBM guidelines, for inclusion in their local staffing patterns and annual investment plans; and 4. Submit a Regularization Proposal to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and DBM through the DILG at least once every two (2) years, outlining targets, timelines, and positions to be created.

The DILG shall issue an annual consolidated report to Congress and the Office 2 of the President on the progress of LGU compliance, including the number of regularized functionaries, positions created, and LGUs implementing phased 4 regularization. Nothing in this section shall preclude an LGU from adopting an immediate 6 regularization plan based on its financial capacity and service needs. The CSC and 7 DBM shall provide technical assistance to support compliance and integration with 8 existing personnel management systems.

Sec. 13. Protection and Grievance Mechanism. - Each LGU shall establish a

10 Barangay Functionaries Grievance Board at the municipal or city level to safeguard the rights and welfare of barangay functionaries. This Board shall be tasked with receiving, hearing, and resolving complaints, appeals, or disputes involving barangay functionaries, whether arising from disciplinary actions, denial of benefits, termination of service, or other work-related grievances. The composition of the Grievance Board shall be determined by the DILG, but shall include representatives from the following: a. The Municipal or City Legal Office; b. The Local Human Resource Office (or designated personnel officer; c. The Barangay Affairs Office or its equivalent; d. A representative of accredited barangay functionary associations, if any; e. A civil society or community development representative, as an independent observer. Decisions of the Grievance Board may be appealed to the Provincial Government and, thereafter, to the DILG for administrative review.

Sec. 14. Free Legal Assistance. - Barangay functionaries shall likewise be

entitled to free legal assistance through the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) for any civil, criminal, or administrative case filed by or against them in connection with the lawful discharge of their duties. The PAO shall coordinate with the DILG to ensure awareness, accessibility, and delivery of such legal support across LGUS.

Sec. 15 Politica/ Neutrality. - All barangay functionaries covered under this Act

shall maintain political neutrality in the performance of their official duties. They are strictly prohibited from engaging in any partisan political activity, including but not

1 limited to campaigning, distributing political materials, attending political rallies in an 2 official capacity, or using government resources for political ends. Any barangay 3 functionary who files a Certificate of Candidacy for an elective position shall be deemed to have voluntarily resigned from their post as of the date of filing. Violation of this provision shall be a ground for disqualification from receiving 6 benefits under this Act and may be subject to administrative sanctions as may be 7 determined by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), without 8 prejudice to prosecution under other applicable laws.

Sec. 16. Monitoring and Compliance. - The DILG shall develop and implement

10 a monitoring and evaluation system to assess LGU compliance with the provisions of 11 this Act, including the submission and implementation of the Regularization Roadmap, provision of mandated benefits, and creation as well as maintenance of the National Barangay Functionaries Registry.

Sec. 17. Annual Reporting. - The DILG shall submit to Congress and the Office

of the President an annual report on the accomplishments, deployment, and welfare of barangay functionaries nationwide.

Sec. 18. Appropriations. - The amounts necessary to implement the provisions

of this Act shall be sourced from the respective annual budgets of LGUs, subject to existing budgetary laws and guidelines. The Barangay Functionaries Subsidy Fund shall be established and administered by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in coordination with relevant national agencies to support the implementation of this Act in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth- class municipalities.

Sec. 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DILG, in coordination with

relevant national agencies, shall issue the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

Sec. 20. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid,

the remaining provisions shall not be affected.

Sec. 21. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and rules inconsistent

with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 22. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

2 publication in the Official Gazette or a national newspaper of general circulation. Approved,