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Katarungang Pambarangay

Background

Katarungang Pambarangay or Barangay Justice System is a community-based dispute settlement mechanism that is administered by the basic political unit of the country, the barangay. As a community-based mechanism for dispute resolution, it covers disputes between members of the same community (generally, same city/municipality) and involves the Punong Barangay and other members of

the communities (the Lupon members) as intermediaries (mediators, conciliators, and, sometimes, arbitrators).(KP Handbook)

The establishment and operation of the Barangay Justice System is mandated by Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991. Prior to this law, however, the establishment of the Barangay Justice System had been covered by Presidential Decree 1508 in 1978 and Batas Pambansa Blg. 337 or the 1983 Local Government Code. When PD 1508 first decreed the setting up of the Barangay

Justice System, the law had the following objectives: (KP Handbook)

• To promote the speedy administration of justice;

• To minimize the indiscriminate filing of cases in courts;

• To minimize the congestion of court dockets and thereby enhance the quality of justice dispensed by the courts; and

• To perpetuate and recognize the time-honored tradition of amicably

DILG 10 Initiatives

1. DILG 10 - GIZ Partnership

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 10 entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit - Conflict-Sensitive to produce a guidebook entitled : Enhancing Access to Barangay Justice System through a Child-Friendly, Gender-Responsive, Conflict-Sensitive, and Culture-Relevant Implementation of the Katarungang Pambarangay Law.  The book is a replication of a similar partnership in DILG Region 13 that produced an Enhanced Katarungang Pambarangay Manual duly interfaced with the Higaonon Customary Laws. The same document has been enhanced in Region 10 with the interfacing of the Higaonon and the Meranaw Customary Laws & Practices. The pilot areas include the Higaonons of Bukidnon Higaonon Tribal Association (BUHITA) gaup which covers the eight (8) barangays in the Upper Pulangui of Malaybalay City, in the province of Bukidnon, and the Meranaws in the province of Lanao del Norte.

It is the intention of the guidebook to assist the Lupong Tagapamayapa in effectively integrating the mechanism to mainstream a gender-responsive, child-friendly, culture-and conflict-sensitive Katarungang Pambarangay without violating the provisions of relevant laws.

2. DILG 10 - DOJ 10 - PNP 10 - LGA Partnership

The DILG 10, in partnership with the DOJ, is implementing measures to strengthen the Katarungang Pambarangay (KP) system through an integrative framework and the development of a standardized KP Handbook. 

This initiative aims to enhance the effectiveness of dispute resolution at the barangay level and support the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA) program.

Support to KP

Section 422 of the same code likewise provides that such amount as may be necessary for the effective implementation of the KP shall be provided for in the annual budget of the city or municipality concerned.

In furtherance thereof, all Mayors and their sanggunians are thus hereby directed to comply therewith. They are thus, encouraged to adopt measures such as but not limited to the conduct of regular trainings for Katarungang Pambarangay.

Update

All local chief executives and other local officials are encouraged to print and utilize the enhanced KP training manual for KP-related trainings, orientations, capacity building or similar activities, and to print, distribute, and/or post KP advocacy materials within the barangay hall premises.

All field officers are directed to use the prescribed modules in the enhanced KP training manual for KP-related trainings for barangay officials and Lupong Tagapamayapa members.

All concerned are advised to use the link: bit.ly/3thlof4 to access the following kp resource materials developed by AHRC, to wit:

• Enhanced KP Training Manual

• KP flowcharts (Filipino, English, and Cebuano versions)

• Safe Spaces Act primer

• Gap analysis report

Legal Bases / References

• MC 2024 - 168 Utilization of the " Enhanced Gender-Responsive, Child-Friendly and Indigenous Peoples-Relevant Katarungang Pambarangay Training Manual " and other Related Advocacy Materials

• MC 2007 - 129 KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY

• Section 121 of RA 7160

LGMED References

• R10-LGMED-2026-02-05-022 ATTENDANCE TO THE KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY(KP) HANDBOOK TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP (TWG) WORKSHOP AND CY 2026 LUPONG TAGAPAMAYAPA INCENTIVES AWARDS (LTIA) CONSULTATIVE MEETING

• R10-LGMED-2026-02-02-009 INVITATION TO THE KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY (KP) HANDBOOK TWG WORKSHOP

• R10-LGMED-2026-01-29-001 CONDUCT OF KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY (KP) HANDBOOK FINALIZATION DEBRIEFING

• R10-LGMED-2026-01-14-012 ATTENDANCE TO THE FINALIZATION OF THE KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY HANDBOOK 

• R10-LGMED-2024-11-06-011 DISSEMINATION OF MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2024 – 168 ENTITLED UTILIZATION OF THE “ENHANCED GENDER- RESPONSIVE, CHILD-FRIENDLY AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES-RELEVANT KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY TRAINING MANUAL”, AND OTHER RELATED ADVOCACY MATERIALS