EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session ) t p f f tc ot ti r -?

SENATESenate Bill No. 253

*19 JUL-8 P 2 ;06

Introduced by SENATOR LACSON

AN ACTU P G R A D IN G T H E B E N E F IT S AND I N C E N T I V E S OF

BA R A N G A Y T A N O D M E M B E R S W H O HAVE R E N D E R E D AT L E A S T O N E Y E A R O F S E R V IC E IN T H E BA R A N G A Y

G O V E R N M E N T

E X P L A N A T O R Y N O TE

U nknow n to many, the maintenance o f local peace and order and the promotion o f public safety in every nook and corner o f our society rests primarily not with the local police, but rather, with a handful o f men roaming each and every barangay in the country part icularly at night, the Barangay Tanods. These men composed mainly o f civil ian volunteers , are armed not with a gun but with night sticks, are walking in groups o f four (4) to six (6) men instead o f r iding in patrol cars in protecting their respect ive areas o f ju r isd ic t ion and responding to the call o f anyone when the need for it arises.

Through the years, the plight o f these Barangay Tanods are often neglected. Al though they are given some benefi ts for the task they perform, it is a fact that such benefi ts are not comm ensura te with the risk they are encounter ing while they are on duty. Thus, this proposed measure seeks to remedy the sad plight o f our Barangay Tanods.

The proposed legislat ive measure seeks to increase the benefits presently received by our Barangay Tanods like Chris tmas Bonus equivalent to o ne -ha l f ('A) o f what the present Punong Barangay is receiving; insurance coverage equivalent to three-fourth (3/4) o f what the Punong Barangay is receiving; free legal services from government lawyers for criminal or civil cases filed against them in the performance o f their duties; and preference in the avai lment o f and or membership in barangay livelihood and development projects .

soughtIn view o f the foregoing, early passage o f this bill is earnestly

P A N FI I ^ ^ W T l A C S O N I Sanator

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )

SENATESenate Bill No. 253

DATE

TIME

BILLS A /IN D EX

Introduced by SENATOR LACSON

AN ACTU P G R A D IN G T H E B E N E F IT S AND I N C E N T I V E S OF

B A R A N G A Y T A N O D M E M B E R S W H O H A VE R E N D E R E D AT L E A S T O N E Y E A R O F S E R V IC E IN T H E B A RA N G A Y

G O V E R N M E N T

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

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S E C T I O N 1. The State recognizes the “Barangay T an o d ” , duly

created under the provision o f the Local Government Code, as an

indispensable instrument in barangay government, part icu larly in the

latter 's role in the maintenance and protec tion o f peace and security

and the p rom otion o f public safety within the barangay.

7 S E C T I O N 2. As used herein, a Barangay Tanod, means a

8 brigade or body composed o f civil ian volunteers , duly created at the

9 barangay level, to assist the barangay officials in the effect ive

10 exercises o f law enforcement for the maintenance o f peace and order

11 and the promotion o f public safety.

12 Barangay Tanod members refer to civil ian volunteers , duly

13 appointed by the Sangguniang Barangay, i rrespect ive o f the number

14 thereof.

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S E C T I O N 3. Without in any way d iminish ing the benefi ts and

privileges already granted by the Local Government and other related

laws, a m em ber o f the Barangay Tanod who has rendered continuous

service for at least one (1) year in any barangay shall, during his

incumbency, be enti t led to the following:

(a) Chris tmas bonus equivalent to at least one h a l f (1/2) o f

what the Punong Barangay is receiving, as mandated by

law or ordinance;

(b) An insurance coverage equivalent to three-fourths (3/4) o f

that received by the Punong Barangay, in accordance with

Republic Act Sixty-Nine Forty-Two (RA 6942) otherwise

known as "An Act Increasing the Insurance Benefi ts O f

Local Government Officials and Provid ing Funds

Therefor" or the amount provided for under Section 393

(d) o f the Local Government Code, whichever is higher;

(c) Free legal services from government lawyers for criminal

and civil cases filed against him, aris ing from acts

committed in the performance o f his duties. Provided, that

such legal services shall continue, even after the term o f

the Barangay Tanod member as long as the subject o f the

cases filed against him arises from acts committed in the

perfo rm ance o f his duties;

(d) Preference in the avai lment o f and/or membership in

barangay l ivel ihood and development projects , whether

init ia ted by the National Government or the local

governm ent uni ts (LGUs),

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1 S E C T I O N 4. A Barangay Tanod member who is yet to render

service as such, to any barangay for a period o f one (1) year shall

receive the benefi ts and privileges as mandated by the Local

Government Code.

6 S E C T I O N 5. A Barangay Tanod, once appointed, shall not be

7 removed as such nor his services be terminated, except for causes

8 enumerated by the barangay resolution creat ing the Barangay Tanod,

9 which shall take into consideration the integrity, responsibi l i ty and

10 accountabil i ty in barangay service o f the barangay tanod concerned.

11 The decision to remove a Barangay Tanod for cause shall rest upon the

12 decision o f the Sangguniang Barangay concerned.

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14 S E C T I O N 6. Such sums, as may be necessary for the

15 implementa t ion o f the provision o f this Act, are hereby authorized to

16 be appropria ted out o f any funds in the National Treasury not

17 otherwise appropria ted . Thereafter , the amount needed to implement

18 this Act shall be included in the annual budget o f the Department o f

19 Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the General

20 Appropria t ions Act (GAA).

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S E C T I O N 7. All general and special laws, acts, city or

municipal ordinances , executive orders, proclamat ions and

administra t ive regula tions, or parts thereof which are inconsis tent with

any provis ions o f this Act are hereby repealed or modif ied

accordingly.

1 S E C T I O N 8. The Department o f Interior and Local Government

2 shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

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S E C T IO N 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen days after the

complet ion o f its publicat ion in the Official Gazette or in at least two

(2) newspaper o f general circulation.

Approved,