Mapua University

School of Architecture, Industrial Design and The Built Environment

CS200: A Case Study on the Local Government Unit and Barangay Hall

AR142-1P

Submitted to:

Ar. Yosef Maru Pablo

Submitted by:

Banela, Ray Matthew S.

January 10, 2020

Introduction

Defined as the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, the barangay is the

native Filipino term for village and has been used since the Spaniards conquered the country up

to the present. Barangays are the basic political unit which also serves as the primary planning

and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities in the

community, and as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed,

crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled. The barangays may be

the smallest administrative division, but they are essential to the country’s peace, order, and

continuous development as they handle the residents of the barangay first-handedly.

In order to facilitate the barangay properly and efficiently, the barangay is led by a group

of individuals to be discussed later on in the study. To formally house and provide a site of

access to the population to reach the ones in-charge of the barangay, a barangay hall is erected

within the parameters of the barangay. These statements are laws which can be found in the

Republic Act 7160. (Local Government Code Of 1991)

In this paper, the researcher aims to determine the prescribed organizational structure of

the Barangay Local Government Unit as provided in the Local Government Code of 1991

(RA7160) and the spaces and their corresponding area measurements required in the design and

operation of a barangay hall. In this paper, the barangay hall to be analyzed is the barangay hall

of Medicion 1-D located in the city of Imus.

Barangay Organizational Structure

According to s. 387 of the Local Government Code Of 1991 (Republic Act 7160), the

barangay persons-in-charge consists of the following: a punong barangay, seven (7) sangguniang

barangay members, the sangguniang kabataan chairman, a barangay secretary, and a barangay

treasurer. There shall also be in every barangay a lupong tagapamayapa. The sangguniang

barangay may form community brigades and create such other positions or o៛ces as may be

deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the barangay government in accordance with the

needs of public service, subject to the budgetary limitations on personal services prescribed

under Title Five, Book II of this Code.

Required Barangay Hall

For every barangay, there should be a barangay hall. As stated in Article 8, Regarding

Government Centers, “(a) Every province, city, and municipality shall endeavor to establish a

government center where offices, agencies, or branches of the National Government, LGUs or

GOCCs may, as far as practicable, be located.”

Barangay Hall Space Requirements

According to the national Building Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree (P.D.)

No. 1096 ) the barangay hall falls under the Rule Vii “ Classification And General Requirements

Of Buildings By Use Or Occupancy Group A “ Residential (Dwellings) Division A- as it is

considered under community facilities and social centers. The minimum requirements for

structures under Division A include:

(a) Dwelling Location and Lot Occupancy. The dwelling shall occupy not more than ninety

percent of a corner lot and eighty percent of an inside lot, and subject to the provisions on
Easement on Light and View of the Civil Code of the Philippines, shall be at least 2 meters from

the property line.

(b) Light and Ventilation. Every dwelling shall be so constructed and arranged as to provide

adequate light and ventilation as provided under Section 805, of this Code.

(c) Sanitation. Every dwelling shall be provided with at least one sanitary toilet and adequate

washing and drainage facilities.

(d) Foundation. Footing shall be of sufficient size and strength to support the load of the

dwelling and shall be at least 250 millimeters thick and 600 millimeters below the surface of the

ground.

(e) Post. The dimensions of wooden post shall be those found in Table 708-A Dimensions of

Wooden Posts (Annex B-1). Each post shall be anchored to such footing by strap and bolts of

adequate size.

(f) Floor. The live load of the first floor shall be at least 200 kilograms per square meter and for

the second floor, at least 150 kilograms per square meter.

(g) Roof . The wind load for roofs shall be at least 120 kilograms per square meter for vertical

projection.

(h) Stairs. Stairs shall be at least 750 millimeters in clear width, with a rise of 200 millimeters

and a minimum run of 200 millimeters.

(i) Entrance and Exit. There shall be at least one entrance and another one for exit.

(j) Electrical Requirements. All electrical installation shall conform to the requirements of the

Philippine Electrical Code.

Analysis of Barangay Hall

The barangay hall used for the case study is the barangay hall of Medicion 1-D, located

in Imus, Cavite. To guide and tour the researcher through the barangay hall is Romeo L.

Camama, the barangay secretary.

The Medicion 1-D Barangay Hall is located along the main road of Medicion 1-D. It is a

rented apartment with an area of 35 sqm converted into a barangay hall. As Mr. Romeo L.

Camama stated, the previous barangay hall was demolished as the structure stood above the

canals, which the city has been strictly monitoring. He stated that it was illegal to have structures

over the canal. Ever since, they have been requesting a new barangay hall location, one much

more pleasing to the residents and the barangay officials as well.

 Upon entering the barangay hall, a poster of the Local Government Units Organizational

Structure can be found, which contains the punong barangay, seven (7) sangguniang barangay

members, the sangguniang kabataan chairman, a barangay secretary, and a barangay treasurer.

The secretary’s computer is also found upon entering the structure together with a table and chair

or entertaining guests or complainants of the barangay.

The barangay hall also serves as a storage space for the materials available for borrowing

such as chairs, tents and more. According to the barangay secretary, it is also the barangay’s duty

to provide additional equipment for those in need such as tables, chairs, and tents for funeral

wakes, fiestas and more.

 Sanitary-wise, the barangay hall meets the building code’s requirements in providing

potable water, at least one sanitary toilet and adequate washing and drainage facilities but

according to the barangay secretary, they would appreciate an improvement on the barangay

hall’s restroom as they are uncomfortable in using the area because of the lack of fixtures.

When asked for comments on the barangay hall, barangay secretary Romeo L. Camama

stated that although it may be unpleasing to some people’s eyes, the barangay hall has been

serving its purpose properly for some time already. To add, the barangay secretary hopes for

improvement in the barangay budget in order to improve the current barangay hall or better,

relocate to a better location.

Conclusion and Recommendation

In conclusion, the barangay hall of Medicion 1-D purely serves a utilitarian purpose, to

serve the people, and to utilize the barangay hall as a venue for the organizational structure to

conduct meetings. Albeit the statements of the interviewed individual regarding the barangay

hall being uneasy in the eyes, the barangay hall is able to serve the physiological needs therefore

it is a successful barangay hall which only need improvement in the aesthetics. Some

recommendations include improvement in the restrooms, possible air conditioning of the hall,

and improvement in the cleanliness and appearance of the façade.

References

Republic Act No. 7160. October 10, 1991. Retrieved from

Http://Www.Gov.Ph/1991/10/10/Republic-Act-No-7160/

Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1096 Adopting A National Building Code of The Philippines

(Nbcp) (R.A. No. 6541). (2018). Retrieved from

http://ray.dilg.gov.ph/files/national_building_code_of_the_philippines.pdf