The History and Structural Evolution of

the Barangay in the Philippines

By:
CZERWIN S. JUALES,RN,MAN
 The Pre-Spanish
Barangay (Before 1565)
Barangay were the
most common forms of
settlement in the
Philippine archipelago
before the Spaniards
arrive in 1521. They
were scattered along
seacoasts, lakeshores,
mouths of rivers and
the banks of lower
reaches of navigable
rivers
.
The original settlers
were the Southern
Mongoloid of
Austronesians (brown
race) who came into
the islands 5,000 or
6,000 years ago or
much later Borneans
who settle around.
The came along riding in
boats called “Balangay”
from which the word
“barangay” evolved.
Families related by
blood or marriage rode
together in several
balangay boats and
where landed, they
settled, establishing a
whole barangay
settlement for
themselves.
A barangay usually had 30 to 40 or 50
families or even 100 families. A few
were large enough to have many as
1,000 inhabitants. Not all barangay
remained small settlements however,
recent research reveals. Butuan
exemplifies a settlement that grew to
become a city or even a state by itself.
A barangay was ruled by a datu
(village chieftain or king). He
must have been originally a man
of strength, bravery, prowess in
battle, and wisdom. In time,
succession became hereditary
and a village aristocracy came
into being. This did not prevent
other individuals to become datu
if he had the qualities mentioned
and whenever the successor was
weak.
Some datus made allegiances
with each other, in cases
they were related to blood
(Kolambu of Masa and Awi of
Butuan were brothers) by
marriage (Humabon of Cebu
married the niece of Lapu-
lapu) or they agreed to a
pact called sandugo (literally
one blood) the chiefs of the
sandugo swore to support
and defend one another
until death.
The prime chief in an alliance usually went
to the datu to held control of his trade, his
barangay being strategically located in are
sheltered harbor or bay (Cebu or Manila)
or mouths of rivers (Butuan).
Visiting ships, foreign or inter-island, earned
him anchorage fees, tariffs on goods, and
discounts on local purchase as high as 75%.
This material gain and the datu’s command of
the distribution of prestige goods (pottery
and porcelain) between coastal/lowland and
interior/upland areas eventually lent him
political power and lordship over other datus.
Different Description of
Pre-Spanish Barangay
 Extent of Rulership
“He is an absolute ruler. He
exercised unlimited
legislative, executive, and
judicial powers and was the
embodiment of government”.
As legislator, the datu made
laws after consultation with
the council of elders who
rendered advice to him.
As executive, the datu
was assisted by second
and third chief and by
the elders. As judiciary,
the datu was sole judge
and arbiter in cases
where his subjects
were involved following
customary laws and
usages.
He held the rest of the barangay inhabitants
his subjects. He treated them ill or well and
could dispose their persons and possession
at will. according to Morga (1904), Laurel
(1925) and Ocampo and Panganiban (1998).
In the view of Jose
Rizal, in his annotation
to Morga’s 1609 work, a
view also subscribed to
by Arellana (1954),
Carino (1998), and
Corpuz (1989).
In this opposite view, the
datu’s function were
more of an administrator,
serving the community as
the barangay’s steward
and managing its
resources. They were
governed according to
the principles of
stewardship and
accountability.
The view may have been inspired by Rizal’s
annotations of Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas to wit: “ their duty was to rule and
govern their subjects and followers and to
assist them in their interest and necessities
What the chiefs received
from their followers was to
be held by them in great
veneration and respect; and
they were served in their
wars and voyages and in
their tilling, sawing, fishing,
and building their houses. To
these duties, natives
attended very promptly,
whenever summoned by
their chief.
The Barrio in the Spanish
Times (1565-1898)

.
The barangays in Luzon,
the Visayan islands, the
northern regions of
Mindanao were conquered
by foreign invaders, the
Spaniards. The datu and
his followers all became .
subjects of the Spanish
monarch.
To facilitate pacification, the
barangays were “reduced” forcing
the natives of smaller and remote
barangays to resettle in designated
barangays which later became
pueblos
The former datus lost their
powers but the Spanish
colonizers thought it better to
retain them as village chiefs
though their titles had changed
to “cabeza de barangay” (head
of the barangay). The barangay
itself was remained “barrio,”
which functioned only as
administrative units of
government from 1565 to 1898.
The centralized, hierarchical structure was
set up but the barrios were untouched. Only
one person in the barrio, the cabeza, had
involvement with the pueblo, the municipal
level of local government in Spanish times.
The cabeza collected the tributes or taxes from
the heads of the families in which he could get
3% share of the collection.
He was also the part of the
town principalia who had
voting rights to elct 12
member electoral college
made up of six incumbent
cabezas and another six
consisting of former
gobernadorcillos (town
mayors). These 12 people
finally elected the next set
of town officials.
The Maura law of 1893 was a very late response of
the colonizers to peas native intelligentsia for local
local autonomy. Again, the reforms were only good
up to municipal level of government. The cabezas
still had voting rights as principalia members, and
they could still get the share of the tributes
collected, which had been increased to 50%
Barrio in the Independence Struggle
Against Spain and USA
In June 18, 1898 the cabeza is counted
as part of the town officers, just like in
Spanish times. One feature added: the
cabeza of the poblacion automatically
became the vice president of the town.
 The Malolos Constitution similarly provided
for the creation of the municipal assemblies
to administer the affairs of the towns.
The Barrio in the American Times
(1899-1941)
The United States continued the centralized
political structure governing its first colony.
Through General Order 43 GO 40 (1900), the
local autonomy focus still remained up to the
miunicipal level. Which retained the municipal
council but with another body created to
accompany it, the municipal assembly.
The town mayor was called presidente
municipal and the cabeza de barangay was
called barrio lieutenant and was later called
tiniente del barrio under GO 43.
Act 82, of the
Philippine
Commission, passed
on 31st of January
1901 was a letdown of
barrio autonomy. The
barrio lieutenant was
no longer elected but
appointed by an
elected municipal
councilor assigned to
supervise the barrio.
His task was to assist
the councilor in their
performance of the
latter’s duties in said
barrio. His only
privilege was
exemption from
paying cedula during
his term.
In 1931, Act 3861 of the Rural Council Act
was passed by the Philippine legislature.
Increased participation from the barrio was
introduced with the four councilmen also be
appointed by the municipal councilor in
charge of the barrio, with approval of the
municipal council.
The councilmen were to assist and help the
municipal councilor to recommend barrio
improvements, they also served as
information officer to inform the barrio
people about new laws enacted and
important activities in the town.
The Barrio in the Japanese Times
During the four year Japanese occupation of
the islands from December 1941 to mid-
1945, the focus was less on the barrios as
administrative units of cities and
municipalities but on the Japanese-organized
neighborhood association.
The Barrio from the Post World
War II to 1972
After the world war III, the provisions of the
1935 Constitution on local governments
resumed application. One problem was the
economic dislocation of the country which
threatened national security. The under
development of the rural areas thus impelled
national leaders to do something for the barrios
then because of the Huk rebellion raging
Central Luzon.
President Quirino issued
Executive Order (EO)
347 on September 22,
1950 which created
barangay association for
the purpose of
strengthening the social
ties in the barrio and
thus counter Huk
infiltration campaigns.
At the end of Quirino’s term, the barrios were
not reached by the government services. The
public school was the only government agency
with physical facilities and personnel in the
barrios.
Other public services trickled in. these other
services included the medical care of the
municipal physician at his office in the
poblacion, periodic visits of the sanitary
inspector, and occasional visits of the sanitary
inspector, and occasional visit of the policeman.
In general, the barrios were without the means
improve themselves.
Community Development started in the year
1950s. Few Non-Government Organizations
proposed community development activities
however, it is not well distributed or properly
implemented.
On the part of the government, thee were
puroks of the Bureau of Public Schools, the 4-H
Club and the Rural Improvement Club of the
Bureau of Agricultural Extension, the welfare
councils and self-help centers of the Social
Welfare administration, the projects of
Economic Development Corporation, and the
land settlement projects of the National
Resettlement and Rehabilitation
Administration.
The purok was initiated by the Bureau of
Public Schools had a school teacher or a
team of the school teachers who organized
group of households to undertake the
community development projects.
The purok organization had officers and
committees, and representative from each
purok in the barrio composed the barrio
coordinating council. 1n 1955 to 1956,
there were 19,000 barrios with organized
purok for a total of 35,229 puroks.
During the time of President
Ramon Magsaysay he issued EO
57 on August 16, 1954
creating a Community
Development Planning Council
(CDPC), the precursor of the
barrio economic and social
development through the local
development council.
Magsaysay brought the barrio
in the national concern.
The tempo of barrio development paced
fast in Magsaysay’s time with the passage
of two more Republic Act, the RA 1245,
created the Barrio Council to be
composed of the Barrio lieutenants,
several vice barrio lieutenants, and three
councilmen, one for each livelihood,
health and education all to be elected by
qualified voters each year.
 Still, the barrio just before the passage of the 1959
Barrio Charter was characterized as:
- A mere administrative unit;
- Executing orders of city/municipal authorities;
- Subordinate to the city/municipal government
which reviewed all ordinances of the Barrio
Council; and
- Under the immediate supervision of the
city/municipal mayor
But the barrio had already hugged national
attention which eventually led to the
passage of a landmark legislation – RA 2370
of the Barrio Charter Act of June 21, 1959.
There were changes as to who would be
elected to the Barrio Council when the
Barrio Assembly meets for the purpose.
To be elected for two-year terms were the
barrio lieutenant, barrio treasurer, four
councilors, and vice barrio lieutenants in
such number as there where sitios, and if
there were no sitios, one vice barrio
lieutenant for every 200 inhabitants.
Elections would start in 1960.
It was through the Barrio Council that the
government’s community development
program was implemented in the barrio.
The Barrio Charter of 1959 indeed
accentuated the role of the barrio residents
and gave them a chance to work out their
problems.
The Barrio Charter of 1959 indeed program
was implemented in the barrio residents and
gave them the chance to work to work out
their problems.
The Barrio Council was empowered to approve
was empowered to approve and enforce
ordinances to carry out projects for the
welfare of the inhabitants. The Barrio
Assembly, to include residents 18 years old
and above, would meet once a year to approve
the barrio budget and special tax ordinances
passed the Barrio Council.
The Barangay from Martial Law to
1986
On September 21 1972,
President Ferdinand Marcos
imposed martial rule in the
Philippines. The first act he
pronounced regarding barrio
governments was the
Presidential Decree (PD) 86
issued December 31, 1972.
This PD created what then
was called “citizens’
assemblies.”
This assemblies were supposed to broaden the
base of citizen participation in the democratic
process and to afford the citizens opportunities
to express views on important national issues.
Presidential Decree 431 of April 8, 1947 instructed
the Filipinos to drop the word “barrio” from the
usage and use “barangay” instead, while PD 557 of
September 1974 officially declared that
“barangay” be used.
Presidential Decree 557 also renamed the
local councils in all local government level as
“sanggunian” – sangguniang panlalawigan for
the provinces, sangguniang panglunsod for
cities and municipalities, and sangguniang
barangay (SB) for barangays.
laborates structures were also organized
to strengthen the drive for the
development all over the country. This
included the Katipunan ng mga Barangay
(League of Barangay Councils) and the
Kabataang Pambarangay (Barangay Youth
Organization) among others.
Presidential Decree 684 of April 15, 1975
created the Kabatang Barangay (KB)
composed of the residents ages 15 to 18 (a
subsequent PD 1002 passed Febraury 1977
increased the age limit to 21), whose officers
would be composed of the barangay youth
chairman along six barangay youth leaders.
Another milestone of martial law was PD
1508 ISSUED ON June 11, 1978. This PD
spelled out the structures and mechanism of
Katarungang Pambarangay (barangay justice).
It followed indigenous values and cultural
practices of the Filipinos in settling disputes
amicably using third parties to broker the
conciliation process with the barangay
captain as the chair, the Lupon
Tagapamayapa and 10-20 barangay residents
all whom are appointed by the barangay
captain as members, amicable settlement in
the barangay is attained.
The Ministry of Local Government (MLG) now
the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) also passed the
Memorandum Circular 79-8 on January 20,
1979 creating the Barangay Development
Council (BDC) this was the same local
development council in the past.
The BDC was composed of the barangay
captain, six councilors, and the MLG officer
in the barangay representatives of
government agencies assigned in the
barangay, and representatives from
NGO/private sectors.
Marcos lifted martial law in January 1981.
Soon, the Batasang Pambansa passed Batas
Pambansa 222 on March 25, 1982 which
formally declared that “barangay captain” be
replaced by “punong barangay.”
The law also provided that the barangay
council of the Sangguniang Barangay be
composed of the punong barangay and six
kagawad. The first elections after martial law
were held on May 17, 1982 for a term of six
years starting June 7, 1982.
The Barangay from 1986 to the present

Article X of the 1987 Constitution

restates Article XI of the 1973
Constitution – that provinces, cities,
municipalities, and barangays are
recognized as territorial and political
subdivisions of the Republic of the
Philippines.
Barangay governance was now regarded as
incomplete without full participation of civil
society. Thus, EO 319 was passed on March
4, 1988 reorganizing and strengthening the
BDCs.
The BDC has been expanded in membership
so that when it meets in session all groups in
the barangay are able to voice out their
needs and requirements in the preparation of
the local programs and projects that
eventually become part and the Barangay
Development Plan.
The SDCs –
 1. Agriculture and natural resources
 2. Industry and trade
 3. Tourism and beautification
 4. Education, manpower, and organization
 5. Health and nutrition and family planning
 6. Youth and sports
 7. Infrastructures and utilities
 8. Finance reflect the sectors within the
barangay, thus making the BDC’s task a collective
effort of barangay residents.
 The most empowering and most consolidated legislation came
with RA 7160 of 1991 or the Local Government Code which states
that barangays serve as:
 1. Planning and implementing local government
unit
 2. A forum for discussion of barangay affairs.
 3. A place for amicable settlement of disputes.
The BDC and SB are doing the first; the barangay
assembly and the BDC are implementing the
second; the Lupon is executing the third.
While empowered, barangay has also difficulty
delivering services to their residents. Eight
categories of services are delivered by barangays,
which the national line agencies support.
These eight service categories are:
 Health and social welfare (provision of
day care centers)
 Food security and nutrition (the
barangay nutrition scholar)
 Water and environment protection (100%
collection of efficiency of solid wastes)
 Income/livelihood and employment
protection (Kalakalan 20)
 Shelter and housing/infrastructures
 Peace and order/public safety (Barangay
Anti-drug Abuse Council, the People’s Law
Enforcement Board, the Barangay Disaster
Coordinating Council)
 Education and functional literacy (barangay
high schools and libraries)
 Participation of local governance (Liga ng
mga Barangay sa Pilipinas)