PNP backs House bill limiting number of residents in barangays

May 11, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday expressed support to a House bill seeking to limit the number of residents in a barangay.

In a statement, Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, said they support the passage of House Bill No. 6686 that seeks to set population limits by restructuring the country's 42,000 barangays.

“We firmly believe in the wisdom of local government autonomy and devolution of power as provided under the Local Government Code,” Banac said.

“Yet we also look with great optimism at better prospects for public safety and law enforcement under this proposed legislation,” he added.

Banac said by limiting the population of each barangay to 15,000 the national government is enabling the smallest unit of local government with uniform standard of governance to enforce local ordinances.

“The proposed measure also syncs well with modern policing systems aided by technology that factors geographical information and demographics with crime data as bases for deployment of forces,” he said.

Banac said the long term implementation of this law will further support the program of government to decongest the urban centers by introducing development and equal opportunities to the provinces.

On Sunday, Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers said the House Bill 6686 he filed seeks 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.

He said the number of population could affect the smooth delivery of social services in a barangay.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) expressed support to the proposed bill. Ella Dionisio/DMS