Manny Valdehuesa THE barangay is a little-appreciated unit of our geography, economy, and political system. A thoughtful reading of the Local Government Code (R.A. 7160) reveals that it in fact possesses the following attributes:
  1. It is a small republic
As such, it has the essential elements of a republic: defined territory, population, government, and though limited, sovereignty (the essential elements of a republic). As the home of every sovereign Filipino, barangay voters provide legitimacy to government and authority to public servants on all levels. Every voting precinct is located in it; every vote is cast in it. The Big Philippine Republic draws its life force, direction and political will from these small barangay republics. To neglect even one barangay is to weaken the chain of over 42,000 small barangay republics that make up the Big Republic. (It takes only one barangay to form a band of terrorists who can hold the nation hostage or place it in the grip of terror!)
  1. A government
  2. The barangay has a full-fledged government. It has power to tax, to police (regulatory power), and power of eminent domain—meaning, it can take over private property if public interest so demands by compensating the owner.
  3. Like the upper-level governments, the barangay government has three branches:
Executive - Chairman’s Office Legislative - Sangguniang Barangay Judicial - Lupon Tagapayapa But all three are headed by one and the same official: the Barangay Chairman. Thus, unlike the upper levels, there is no separation of powers. It has a parliamentary form of government. This explains why the barangay’s leader is called “Chairman” (i.e. prime minister, one who presides)—not “Kapitan,” or one who commands or rules. Those who insist on being addressed as “kapitan” like to fancy themselves as a commander (or “little commander-in-chief”. They think they represent the head of state or the president who is overall commander-in-chief. In fact, they represent only the people of the barangay—as their “little prime minister.” They’re not the captain or the little president.  It is wrong to confuse the terms “chairman” and “kapitan,” using them interchangeably. A chairman presides as “first among equals” over his peers, while a kapitan commands subordinates (soldiers). It is not appropriate for sovereign citizens of a democratic community to be led or commanded by a kapitan (who is essentially a dictator). By law, Punong Barangay is the proper title of the leader of this small barangay republic, or chairman. In colonial times, up until the enactment of the Local Government Code of 1991 (R.A. 7160), barangays were not real governments. They were merely quasi-municipal entities with no significant powers or resources. And they were led informally by a “Capitan” or “Teniente del Barrio”—who were in fact officers of the Guardia Civil. Not so anymore! Today, consistent with the parliamentary form of government, the community is governed by its Barangay Assembly, a legislative governing body—a parliament except in name. But its role and powers are generally misunderstood, taken for granted, belittled, or ignored. This in fact is the community’s supreme governing body consisting of the entire constituency. So powerful is it that it can discipline or recall the chairman and kagawads for loss of confidence (Sec. 69-75, R.A. 7160). It may also initiate legislation, propose, enact, or amend ordinances, approve or disapprove official acts, undertake the process of initiative or referendum with respect to local policies or ordinances, and approve or disapprove the barangay’s annual budget.
  1. Moreover, since it consists of all voting constituents, it is literally a Constituent Assembly—meaning, it is superior to the Sangguniang Barangay since its acts, decisions, and resolutions express the will of the sovereign people of the community.
Not only that, because every constituent participates in its deliberations directly (or ought to and not just through representatives or kagawads) its governing process is a direct democracy like the one in ancient Athens or in the modern villages of Israel and Switzerland. But unless it convenes and conducts its business, it cannot exercise or assert its powers. Just like the nation’s Congress, it must convene and act collectively if it is of any use. It is unfortunate, however, that no one seems aware of this parliamentary nature of barangay governance, or of its unique system of direct democracy. Its parliamentary form and direct democracy are what make barangays unique and special. It is through this unique system’s processes that every Filipino is enfranchised—thus empowering the grassroots, the primal base of our political structure. But it doesn’t occur to people that like congress or any collegial or corporate body, the Barangay Assembly is powerless unless it is in session, deliberating formally. Only if they do can they initiate policies, make decisions, or approve/disapprove acts of their government. By doing so, they can they initiate/legislate reforms from the grassroots up! The government’s failure to introduce, explain, or implement these barangay processes (as per the Local Government Code) explains why, instead of being our Big Republic’s firm foundation, the barangays are its soft  underbelly—dominated as they are by traditional politicians (trapos) who corrupt it with patronage and manipulate its voters as an electoral machine. Weak barangays cannot produce a strong republic! (to be concluded)