barangays

A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and the primary unit of local government. It functions within a city or municipality and is headed by an elected Punong Barangay (Barangay Captain) and a Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council) composed of seven to fourteen kagawads, depending on population. The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) provides youth representation and participates in local governance. The Local Government Code of 1991 provides the legal framework for barangay governance and its relationship with higher LGUs, such as municipalities, cities, provinces, and the national government.

Barangays are responsible for delivering basic services and local policies, including health and sanitation, infrastructure maintenance, peace and order, environmental management, and community welfare. They enact ordinances and resolutions, manage barangay records, and implement programs in health, nutrition, housing, and disaster risk reduction. They coordinate with the municipal or city government and receive funding from the national government’s Internal Revenue Allotment as well as local revenues. The barangay assembly, composed of residents, provides a forum for citizen participation and oversight.

Today, there are more than 40,000 barangays nationwide, making them the most numerous local government units in the Philippines. As the first level of government, they serve as the primary interface between residents and formal governance, handling day-to-day concerns and facilitating access to services.