Barangay Unit

The term BARANGAY comes from a Malayan word "Balangay", a boat used by Malaysians during their migration to the Philippines. That term was introduced to the Filipinos by the Spaniards who then changed the term into "Barangay." Formerly known as "Barrio", Barangay is a subordinate Local Government Unit of which the scope of authority encompasses a whole local community or village. The Barangay government unit is headed by a Captain or Chairman who is duly elected by the people of the village or community. The Barangay government authority falls under the jurisdiction of a duly elected city or town Mayor.

Barangay was officially named pursuant to the Philippine Local Government Code of 1992. Each Barangay Captain/Chairman is designated with an autonomous municipal government authority under which the executive, legislative and ad judicatory powers falls from within the Local Government Code of the Philippines. Today, Barangays are actively involved in all activities that are within the country's hemisphere of politics and economy. Below are the newly elected Barangay Captains whose individual term of service covers the period from August 15, 2002 to November 30, 2005.

Each municipality of the province of Misamis Occidental is subdivided into Barangays. Barangay is the Philippine version of the townships in Western Countries. Each Barangay is managed under the governance of a Chairman elected for a five-year term from the Barangay-level elections. Each Barangay government discharges three basic regulatory functions: (a) as the lowest basic political unit that is delegated to enforce the governmental laws of the land, (b) as a primary unit that plans, implements, and develops projects in its territorial limits to deliver certain basic governmental services to its people; (d) as a central forum where its citizens have the freedom to express, contribute and form collective ideas and opinions as well as enabling its citizens to amicably settle disputes and legal issues.

Each Barangay can propose and implement a program, project or an activity, however, such action requires presentation to an assembly consisting of duly registered local residents of the area. With the recommendation of the City Council and the approval of the City Mayor, each Barangays is empowered to pass their lawfully defined local legislations. The Barangay government is also empowered to have a certain "quasi-judicial" power where it can function as a local "Court of First Instance." With this jurisdiction, the Barangay government is empowered to settle minor disputes that does not require actual court action.

A Barangay maybe created, divided, merged, abolished, or its boundary altered through an ordinance of the City Council. However, its implementation requires the approval by the majority of votes cast during a Plebiscite conducted by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Each Barangay consists of its own respective Chairman and Council members which consist of seven (7) duly-elected members called "Kagawads." Each existence or status is likewise afforded the Chairman of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or youth council. Sangguniang Kabataan is duly-elected specifically by the youth sector.

Shown below are the Barangay components where many delegated regulatory governmental laws are enforced. For example, each Barangay is required to have a Peace Council where they can form community brigades, usually supervised by an appointed "Executive Officer." Governmental laws are carried out through the Peace Council in accordance with the public service needs and subject to the limitations prescribed by the Local Government Code. Each Barangay Chairman is a duly-elected Chief Executive where his/her power somewhat equates to a Town or City Mayor, however, at the Barangay level. By this token, they are often referred by the local constituents as "Kapitan" or Captain.

Of the Barangay components, The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or "Youth Council" is the most significant member. Installed in a local government administration, SK is focused on the younger generation to invest in the future leadership of the nation. As such, this office is focusing on the welfare of the citizens of the community, particularly younger generation, which implements programs and projects to enhance their social, political, economic, cultural, intellectual, moral, spiritual, and physical development. Its members are also duly-elected by an assembly consisting of the youth sector, while the council's Chairman serves as an ex-officio member of the Barangay Council, wielding the similar lawful government powers, functions and duties.