Barbers proposes limiting barangay population to 15,000

Surigao Del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers has filed a measure limiting the population of every barangay to 15,000 in all urban areas of the country in a bid to speed up the delivery of services to residents.

Barbers has filed House Bill 6686 seeking to amend Section 386 of the Local Government Code which imposes a minimum requirement of 2,000 inhabitants for a barangay to be created and 5,000 population in Metro Manila and other metropolitan areas and highly-urbanized areas.

All existing barangays in urban areas with a population of over 15,000 will be reapportioned to create additional barangays.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview on Sunday, Barbers said no matter how organized the system is for delivering social services to a barangay, its population will still make it difficult.

"Nakita natin ngayon, sa experience natin ngayon, itong pamimigay natin ng ayuda ay talagang ilang extension na ang nangyari. Bukod diyan, marami pa ring nagrereklamo," he said.

"Kaya nga sa ating panukala ay pinapanukala ko na siguro mas maganda, liitan natin 'yung ating coverage, 'yung ating barangay. At atasan ang ating mga barangay officials, pinangungunahan ng kapitan, na masiguro na efficient 'yung pagpapatupad ng mga programa galing sa national," he added.

Barbers said the only objective of his bill is to limit the population in a certain barangay. The proposed number of inhabitants could change, depending on what is agreed upon in Congress.

"Maaaring, sa aking panukala, ay 15,000. Maaaring merong magpanukala na 20,000 o 10,000. Siguro dapat pag-usapan muna at pagdebatihan at tignan kung ano talaga 'yung maganda na number. Ang objective lamang ay liitan kasi nga walang nasasaad sa ating Local Government Code na maximum number of barangay," he said.

Barbers pointed out that the internal revenue allotment of a barangay will not change once it is reapportioned into new barangays.

"Kunwari sa isang barangay na 150,000 ang population, dahil 15,000 ang aking proposal, magkakaroon ng 10 barangay. So 'yung IRA at income ng barangay na 'yun ay hahatiin sa 10 barangay," he said.

At the same time, the number of barangay officials may also be reduced along with the number of its residents.

"Sa barangay ko, meron akong isang kapitan, walong barangay kagawad, isang SK (Sangguniang Kabataan), isang barangay treasurer, isang barangay secretary. So 11 tao 'yan. Dahil lumiit 'yung coverage ng barangay ko, hindi naman siguro kailangan ng walo pang barangay kagawad, maaaring dalawa na lang. So madi-distribute natin," he added.

Once the measure is deliberated in the House of Representatives, Barbers said they will call on local government heads and their representatives for consultation.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya on Sunday said Barbers’ proposal has the support of the agency.

Malaya pointed out that services can be delivered easily to barangays with manageable number of residents.

“Sa tingin po namin mukhang maganda naman po ang proposal ni Rep. Barbers. Napansin nga po natin hindi po pantay-pantay ang mga barangay,” Malaya said.
“Panahon na para pag-aralan natin ‘yung size ng barangay as proposed by Congressman Barbers,” he added. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News