THE PUNONG BARANGAY its origins

The Punong Barangay, commonly known as the Barangay Captain and

less commonly Barangay Chairman, is the highest elected official in
a barangay, the smallest of the elected administrative divisions of the
Philippines. Sitios and puroks are sub-divisions of barangays but their
leadership is not elected. As of September 2012, there are 42,028
barangays and therefore 42,028 barangay captains. [1]
The current position was established by the 1991 Local Government
Code and is a successor to positions known variously as Cabeza de
Barangay, Barrio Lieutenant, and Barrio Captain.
Along with the Barangay Kagawad, or Barangay Councilors, the captains
are members of the Sangguniang Barangay, or Barangay Council and
perform many official government duties. They also work informally with
a number of organizations. They are viewed as the village elders. They
also perform some minor judicial functions as part of Barangay Justice
System, such as handling disputes between neighbors.
They are elected for three-year terms. The 2013 Philippine barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan elections were held October 28, 2013.
Barangay captains, along with other barangay officials, get paid between
600 and 1,000 Philippine pesos a month under the Local Government
Code.[2] They receive other compensation as well.

History

While the current set-up is relatively recent, the position of barangay

captain as a long history dating back to pre-colonial barangays. During
the Spanish era, the position was known as the Cabeza de Barangay, or
"head of the barangay". The position was not elected.
At the beginning of the American Colonial Period the position was
renamed Barrio Lieutenant. Under the Administrative Code of 1917,
passed by the Philippine Assembly, these too were not elected but rather
were appointed by and under the supervision of the city councillor for
the barrio.[3] Councillors were elected at that time by electoral districts.
Barrio lieutenants received no pay or other compensation.[3] The
lieutenant was to assist the city councillor and his term ended when the
councillor's term ended.[3]

During the American colonial period and after independence barangays

were known as barrios and barangay captains were known as barrio
lieutenants.
In 1991, the current position took shape as the result of the Local
Government Code.