The basic political units we know today as “barangays”
serve as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects and activities in the community and as the forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed, crystallized and considered and where disputes may be amicably settled. The barangays emanated from what were then called “barrios” which exist and oper-ate as quasi-municipal entities that perform particular government functions thru its “barrio council” and un-der the supervision of the Mayor. Republic Act 2370 of June 21, 1959 or the Barrio Charter governed the activities of barrios.
In the period of the Marcos administration, particularly during the martial law period, barrio assemblies came to be called as citizen’s assemblies as prescribed by PD 86 dated December 31, 1972. When PD 557 was issued on September 21, 1974, these barrios were renamed as barangays and the Barrio Charter, as amended by RA 3590 of June 22, 1963 was adopted as the Barangay Charter.
In Quezon City , prior to PD 86 ,there already existed for-ty- four (44) barrios that were constituted by the then City Council. In 1973, pursuant to PD 86, eighty - nine (89) more civic assemblies were created and later all these one hundred thirty three (133) barrios and civic assemblies were declared as barangays thru Executive Orders No. 20 to 35 dated June 25, 1975 of then Mayor Norberto S. Amoranto in compliance with PD 557. The boundary descriptions and maps which formed part of the said Executive Orders, were prepared by the then Quezon City Secretariat on the Delineation of Baran-gay Boundaries. These were submitted to then Depart-ment of Local GovernDepart-ment and Community Develop-ment (DLGCD) on December 9, 1975 for confirmation.
Subsequent barangays created in the City were either thru Presidential Decrees (1978 to 1981)- three (3) ba-rangays, or thru Batas Pambansa (1982 to 1984) - an-other three (3), making a total of 139 barangays.
However, since the entire City was already covered by the respective territories of the 133 barangays, these newly created barangays were merely “carved - out”
of existing barangays. Meanwhile, the area now known as Barangay Payatas was declared as separate barangay from Barangay Commonwealth thru a court order ren-dered by Quezon City Court of First Instance, Branch 31, on March 5, 1976, hence, is of a special case. How-ever, said court order did not define the exact metes and bounds of Barangay Payatas.
The latest addition to the list is thru Ordinance No. SP 439, S-96 dated September 10, 1996 dividing Barangay Pasong Putik into three (3) barangays namely: Greater Lagro, Pasong Putik Proper, and North Fairview.
The City is made up of 142 barangays each with a ba-rangay council composed of one (1) Punong Baba-rangay, seven (7) Barangay Kagawad Members (1) Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman, (1) Barangay Secretary, (1) Baran-gay Treasurer and (1) Lupon Tagapamayapa.
These barangay officials are the City government’s overwhelming presence in communities and the grass-roots. They are deemed persons of authority in their jurisdiction, being designated by law to take charge of the maintenance of public order, protection and secu-rity of life and property and maintenance of a desirable and balanced environment.
With the passage of Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160) , the barangays were granted more powers and prerogatives.
In terms of land area, Barangay Bagong Silangan with 595.1 ha. is the biggest while Barangay Escopa I with 1.28 ha. is the smallest. In terms of population, Baran-gay Commonwealth has the biggest with 172,834 and Barangay Manga has the least with 634.
Of the 142 barangays, Batasan Hills and Commonwealth in District II have the highest income with P35.57 million (2007) and P48.44 million (2008), respec-tively, while Brgys. Villa Ma. Clara in District III and Unang Sigaw in District II have the lowest with P 2.27 million (2007)and P 2.24million (2008), respec-tively. As to share on Real Property Tax (RPT), Brgy. Bagumbayan in District III and South Triangle, District IV, got the highest share with P 23.663 million (2007) and P15.664 million (2008), respectively, and Payatas, District II and Escopa IV, District III posted the lowest with only P1.65 million (both in 2008. On the other hand, Brgy. Commonwealth got the biggest share on IRA with P30.89 million (2007) and 48.043 million (2008) largely due to its big population and large area and Brgys. Villa Ma. Clara and Mangga, both of District III, got the smallest share, with only P 433,905.00 (2007) and Mangga P 600,442.00 (2008).
Barangay Amount (2007) Amount (2008) Dist
Bahay Toro Old Capitol Site Alicia Mariblo Payatas Escopa II & IV Escopa IV Krus na Ligas Botocan Old Capitol Site
20,655,736.52 Highest Bgy. Income
(RPT, IRA, &Other Source
Highest Share on RPT
Highest Share on IRA
Lowest Bgy. Income (RPT, IRA, &Other Source
Lowest Share on RPT
Lowest Share on IRA
Table In- 3 Barangay Income Profile
Source: City Budget Office
Operation of the barangays is funded out of the following major sources: (See Table In-4)
Quezon City is the first local government unit to give Barangay officials full fiscal control over their share of real property tax starting 2002, which are given them on a quarterly basis.
Coordination with the various barangay is being handled by the Barangay Opera-tions Center.
The term of office of all local elective officials is three (3) years but shall not serve for more than three (3) consecutive years in the same position.
Quezon City is home to 142 barangays dispersed in the city’s four (4) districts.
Each barangay has its own barangay hall. Of the 142 barangays, 128 have perma-nent structure, 12 have temporary structure, while two (2) barangays are rent-ing a space. As to location, five (5) are constructed in private property, seven (7) are occupying sidewalk/open space and 130 are on government lots. (Refer to Table In-5).
SOURCES SHARE / DISTRIBUTION
Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) Community Tax
Real Property Tax
Taxes, Fees and Charges
50% of the community tax collected through the Barangay Treasurer 30% of the Real Property Tax is distributed among the component barangays a. 50% accrues to the barangay where the property is located
b. 50% accrues equally to all component barangays of the city
The barangays may impose taxes, fees or charges on business establishments
District No. of Brgy Status Constructed in
Permanent Gov’t Lot Sidewalk/
Open Space Private Lot
Temporary
I II III IV Total
37 30 37 38 142
32 29 33 34 128
5 1 4 2 12
-2 2
32 29 35 34 130
1 1 1 2 5
4 -1 2 7 Table In- 4 Barangay Funds Sources
Table In-5 Status of Barangay Halls, District I-IV
Source: Local Government Code of 1991
Source: Barangay Operations Center