Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 3590)
The Act is known and cited as the Revised Barrio Charter.
Barrios are units of municipalities or municipal districts which are quasi-municipal corporations endowed with powers to perform particular government functions through their respective barrio governments in conformity with law.
No barrio may be created if its population is less than five hundred persons.
A petition must come from a majority of the voters in the affected areas, with the creation or name change approved by the provincial board upon recommendation of the municipal council.
The barrio assembly consists of all persons resident in the barrio for at least six months, eighteen years or older, Philippine citizens, and duly registered in the list of barrio assembly members kept by the Barrio Secretary.
At least one-fifth of the members of the barrio assembly must be present to constitute a quorum.
The barrio assembly may recommend welfare measures to the barrio council, decide on holding plebiscites, act on budgetary and tax ordinances submitted by the barrio council, and hear annual reports on barrio activities and finances.
The barrio council is composed of one barrio lieutenant and six barrio councilmen.
Elections are held on the second Sunday of January following regular municipal and provincial elections, and if no election is held then, a date within January can be set by the barrio council or the provincial governor.
A qualified voter or candidate must be a Philippine citizen, 21 years or older, resident of the barrio for six months prior to the election, able to read and write, and duly registered in the barrio voter list, excluding persons convicted of imprisonment of one year or more within two years after sentence, those who violated allegiance to the Philippines, and insane or feeble-minded persons.
The barrio lieutenant enforces laws and ordinances, negotiates contracts with council authorization, maintains peace and order, presides over meetings, appoints barrio officials with council approval, organizes emergency groups, approves disbursement vouchers, represents the barrio in conventions, and looks after the general welfare of the barrio.
The barrio council can prepare budgets, enact tax ordinances, levy taxes and fees within limits, approve disbursements, and accept contributions for barrio projects.
Violations may be punished by fines not exceeding one hundred pesos, imprisonment of not more than fifteen days, or both at the court's discretion.
An ordinance takes effect on the date fixed or 60 days after passage unless a plebiscite is held to confirm it, in which case it takes effect 15 days after confirmation; tax ordinances take effect 15 days after passage unless otherwise specified, subject to possible suspension by the Secretary of Finance.
The municipal mayor supervises barrio officials, investigates complaints, reprimands or submits charges for suspension or removal, with decisions appealable to the municipal council and provincial board.