Republic of the Philippines %, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT “x DILG-NAPOLCOM Center, EDSA corer Quezon Avenue, Brgy. West Triangle, Quezon tity? " NO., TO MEM ay DUM gRe LAR ALL PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS, CITY AND MUNICIPAL MAYORS, PUNONG BARANGAYS, DILG REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND CITY DIRECTORS, CITY/MUNICIPAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS OFFICERS (C/MLGOOs), HEAD OF THE LOCAL PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), BARMM MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND OTHERS CONCERNED SUBJECT : GUIDANCE ON THE CONDUCT OF THE LIGA NG MGA BARANGAY CHAPTER ELECTIONS ee * __NOV 21 2023 1.0 LEGAL BASES 1.1 Section 491 of Republic Act (RA) No. 7160 (LG Code) mandates: “There shall be an organization of all barangays to be known as the Liga ng mga Barangay for the primary purpose of determining the representation of the Liga in the sanggunians, and for ventilating, articulating and crystallizing issues affecting barangay government administration and securing, through proper and legal means, solutions thereto,” 1.2 Section 492 of the same Code provides: “Every barangay shall be represented in said liga by the punong barangay or, in his absence or incapacity, by a sanggunian member duly elected for the purpose among its members, who shall attend all meetings or deliberations called by the different chapters of the liga.” 4.3 Section 493 of the LG Code states: “The liga at the municipal, city, provincial, ‘metropolitan political subdivision, and national levels directly elect a president, a vice-president, and five (5) members of the board of directors. The board shall appoint its secretary and treasurer and create such other positions as it may deem necessary for the management of the chapter. A secretary-general shall be elected from among the members of the national liga and shall be charged with the overall operation of the liga on the national level. The board shall coordinate the activities of the chapters of the liga.” 1.4 Section 41 (b) of the LG Code states: “The presidents of the liga ng mga barangay and the pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan elected by their respective chapters, as provided in this Code, shall serve as ex officio members Matino, Mahusay at Maaasahan” Trunkline No: 8876-34-54of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and Sangguniang bayan.” 1.5 The Supreme Court, in G.R. No. 263590' and G.R. No. 263673? declared RA No. 11935 as unconstitutional, and ruled that the barangay and Sangguiang Kabataan elections (BSKE) set on the last Monday of October 2023 (October 30, 2023) shall proceed as scheduled. The declaration of unconstitutionality of RA 11935 resulted in the revival of RA No. 11462° 1.6 Section 3* of RA No. 114625 states: “x x x. Provided, That barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials who are ex officio members of the sangguniang bayan, sangguniang Panlungsod or sangguniang panlalalawigan, as the case may be, shall continue to serve as such members in the sanggunian concerned until the next barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections.” 1.7 In G.R. No. 139813° dated January 31, 2001, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the President's power of the general supervision, as exercised therein by the DILG Secretary as his alter ego, extends to the Liga ng mga Barangay. 2.0 PURPOSE 2.1 This Memorandum Circular (MC) is issued for the following purposes. 2.1.1 Since there is no hold-over of ex officio members of the sanggunians, there is an urgent need to fill the resulting vacuum of power. To clarify, the Municipal, City and Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay Chapter Presidents serve as ex officio members in the sangguniang bayan, sangguniang panlungsod and sangguniang panlalawigan respectively However, Section 3 of RA 11462 effectively provides that there shall be no hold-over in the service of the ex officio members of the sanggunian, since the provision explicitly states that their service shall only be until the BKSE itself. Hence, these ex officio positions are currently vacant. Therefore, to avoid a vacuum of power, there is an urgent need to fill these ex officio positions by electing new City, Municipal and Provincial Liga Chapter Presidents 2 Further, to avoid a prolonged vacancy in the positions of the ex officio members of the sanggunians in light of their short term which is only until December 2025, as provided for under RA No. 11462 2.4.3 Considering that around half of the current Punong barangays are newly elected, to avoid an iniquitous situation where around half of the Punong barangays are deprived of a chance to participate in the governance of the Liga for a prolonged period, due to undue delay in the holding of the Liga elections. ty bce lg, Ay Ao © A Ay Agence Ay. To say Eas Ay. yee ey © Macaoe, Ay, rn May CRs vers Esa Soe eer ee ea oa “AE my 320 cy ad aang ints eng a 1a Pupn pe eNe 84k ere ty i ee ret es mea era ae ls ecot Sree ar athe an oom eh at ce Poe ar ke ae hn Page 20f 43.0 POLICY CONTENT/GUIDELINES 3.1 The Department, in the exercise of its power of general supervision over the Liga ng mga Barangay, provides the newly elected/reelected punong barangays and other local officials concerned with following guidelines: 3.1.1 SCHEDULE AND VENUE OF LIGA CHAPTER ELECTIONS LIGA CHAPTER DATE OF ELECTION VENUE HUG, ICC, City and Not later than Within the Municipal December 15, 2023 City/Municipality Provincial Hot ieter,hen, January 15, 2024 Within the Province | National and Regional 3.1.2 ELECTIVE OFFICERS Not later than the last day of February 2024 Within Metro Manila 3.1.2.1 In accordance with Section 493 of the Local Government Code of 1991, the Liga at the municipal, city, provincial, metropolitan political subdivision, and national levels directly elect the following 3.1.2.1.1 President. 3.1.2.1.2 Vice-president. 3.1.2.1.3 Five (5) members of the Board of Directors. 3.1.2.2 Secretary-General shall be elected from among the members of the National liga and shall be charged with the overall operation of the liga on the national level. 3.1.3 APPOINTIVE OFFICERS 3.1.3.1. The board shall appoint its: 3.1.3.1.1 Secretary. 3.1.3.1.2 Treasu rer. 3.1.3.1.3 Such other positions as it may deem necessary for the Management of the chapter. 3.2 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 3.2.4 All Provincial Governors, City and Municipal Mayors and other local officials are advised to refrain from the following acts: 3.2.1.1 Interfere or intervene in the conduct of the Liga ng mga Barangay chapter elections. 3.2.1.2 Campaigning for/or against a candidate 3.2.1.3 Conducting any scheme to influence the Liga elections, including but not limited to any “coding” scheme to undermine the secrecy of ballots. Page 3 of 43.2.2 All newly elected and reelected Punong Barangays are advised to: 3.2.2.1 Organize or create their respective Liga election Committees and Boards. 3.2.2.2 Observe the above Liga election timelines. 3.2.2.3 Ensure an orderly and smooth conduct of their respective Liga chapter elections. 3.2.3. The DILG Field Officers concerned are directed to perform the following: 3.2.3.1 Inform all newly elected and reelected Punong Barangays within their respective areas of responsibilities regarding the conduct of the Liga elections. 3.2.3.2 Ensure the participation to the Liga election by all the Punong Barangays within their respective jurisdiction that have been proclaimed and took their oath of office and otherwise complied with the requisite credentials for eligibility to participate in the Liga ng mga Barangay elections. 3.2.3.3 Whenever necessary, provide the concerned barangay officials with assistance during the organization/creation of the Liga Committees and Boards and/or during election meeting or other related activities of the Liga. 3.2.3.4 Observe, monitor and ensure the orderly and smooth conduct of the Liga chapter election/activities. 3.2.4 The Regional Directors are enjoined to: 3.2.4.1 Ensure that the concerned DILG Field Officers performed their roles and responsibilities as stipulated in this policy. 3.24.2 Cause the immediate and widest dissemination of this Circular. 4.0 FEEDBACK For related clarifications and/or other details, all concerned are advised to coordinate with the National Barangay Operations Office thru e-mail address: or through telephone no. (02) 8876-3454 loc. 4407. 5.0 APPROVING AUTHORITY oo ATTY“BENJAMIN C. ABALOS, JR. SeCretary Page 4 of 4