barangay

A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and the basic unit of local government. It functions as a village or neighborhood within a municipality or city and serves as the direct link between residents and higher levels of government. Each barangay is responsible for delivering basic services, maintaining local infrastructure, and implementing policies within its jurisdiction. The head of a barangay is the punong barangay (barangay captain), who chairs the Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council), together with elective kagawads (councilors). In many barangays, a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) representative serves the youth.

The term barangay derives from balangay, the wooden boats used by early Austronesian settlers. By extension, it came to denote a community or boatload of households under a local leader, later evolving into the formal administrative unit recognized today. Historically, barangays trace their roots to pre-colonial social organization and continued to develop through Spanish and American periods, culminating in modern local government.

Governance and composition: a barangay council enacts ordinances and resolutions to address local concerns, while the punong barangay executes laws and oversees everyday administration. The barangay handles tasks such as local peace and order, health and sanitation programs, maintenance of streets and facilities, and the delivery of basic services. It coordinates with the municipal or city government and the province to implement programs and standards.

Legal basis and scope: under the Local Government Code of 1991, barangays enjoy a degree of autonomy in local matters and administration. There are about 42,000 barangays nationwide, reflecting their role as the most numerous unit of government in the Philippines.