"HISTORICAL FACTS ABOUT THE BARANGAY AND THE CREATION OF THE MANILA BARANGAY BUREAU“ 
I. INTRODUCTION
One of the important offices in the City of Manila is the MANILA BARANGAY BUREAU, situated at A. J. Villegas Street, beside Central Station of LRT, which, since its creation in 1973 has been under the umbrella of the Mayor’s Office. Principally considered as the implementing agency of the City Mayor, as regards to the Barangay Affairs of Manila, this Bureau becomes the Center of information relative to the City Executive and the concerned Barangays of Manila. II. THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE BARANGAY The smallest unit of government, known as the BARANGAY, is believed to have been established long, long before the coming of the Spaniards. Its existence, according to History, was the result of the four (4) migrations of the Malays to our Archipelago in the years 200 B.C., 100 A.D., the 12th century (Known as the Bornean Colonization of the Philippines) and finally the 16th Century, when the Muslims invaded Mindanao. Originating from the Malay word “Balangay” the term means “Sailboat” in English and the Barangay set-up during the Pre-Spanish era was headed by the Datu, the Lakan or Raja, as assisted by the Council of Elders. The said Datu then exercised both the executive, Legislative and Judicial powers. That was how powerful the Datu were. Eventually, the Maragtas, Sumakwel and Kalantiyaw Codes likewise served as bases for some Barangay Laws and Regulations. Every Barangay then, consisted of at least 100 families, duly supervised by the abovementioned Rajahs. When the Spanish era began and henceforth, the Barangay setup was never abolished. Instead, the Barangay were named sitios, headed and supervised by the cabeza de Barangay, abviously with less powers. That scheme continued all throughout the period and ended in 1898. Subsequently, the Americans colonized the Philippines, commencing in 1899 ended in 1946, of course minus the Japanese interlude from 1941 and still the Barangay set up continued with the title Cabeza de Barangay having been changed to Barrio Lieutenant or Tinyente del baryo, exercising Barangay powers to the whole barrio. That some went through up to 1946 when the Philippines were surprisingly granted independence by the United States of America. Eventually, on July 04 of the said year, the Republic of the Philippines was born, with the Barangays sticking to the same status, with the title of the head having been changed to Kapitan Del Baryo. The barangys then never become popular and active. Twenty six (26) years later, particularly, September 21, 1972, Martial Law was declared in the Philippines pursuant to P. D. 1018. It was very interesting to note that a year after, 1973, President Ferdinand E. Marcos promulgated P.D. No. 86 and 86-A, both referring to the re-activation of the Barangays. Firstly, the Barangay officials were mere appointed but in 1982, the said Officials were all subjected to elections. Creations of various Barangay brigades followed. Moreover, the Lupon Tagapamayapa or Barangay Court was likewise formed, as support to the Barangay Council. Accordingly, the Barangays supported the national Government Programs and obviously, then President Marcos won the hearts of the Barangays. On February 25, 1986, however, President Marcos was compelled to leave the Country, brought about by a popular uprising, and then known as the People’s Power Revolution. Exiled at Hawaii, the said President met his untimely demise on September 28, 1989. Meanwhile, the Barangay set up still continued and still active up to the present. There are some 42, 000 Barangays nationwide and in the City of Manila, the former 905 Barangays were reduced to 897 today. II. THE CREATION OF THE MANILA BARANGAY BUREAU Prior to the creation of this Bureau, a Civic Law Enforcement Action Network (CLEAN) has been existing and housed at the former City Library Building, then changed to Manila Action Center. Said Office was then headed by Major Narciso Cabrera and all of the Coordinators were members of the Police Force. On November 13, 1993, the Municipal Board enacted an Ordinance, which was approved on December 05, 1993 by the Honorable Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing. Said ordinance was known as City Ordinance No. 7473, “CREATING THE MANILA BARANGAY BUREAU WITH AN APPROPRIATION OF P 475, 063.35 from December 01, 1973 to June 30, 1974. Significant highlights of that Ordinance are as a follows: “Sec. 1 – A MANILA BARANGAY BUREAU IS HEREBY CREATED.” “Sec. 2 – The amount of P 475,063.35 or so much therefore as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of the general and appropriated funds of the City of Manila, to be made available for the salaries and wages as well as other expenditures of the MBB as created in the preceding section covering the period, December 01, 1973 to June 30, 1974, breakdown of which are as follows: Personnel Services (Salary) P 215,063.35 Travel and Transportation 50,000.00 Supplies and Materials 30,000.00 Other Services (Expenses) 130,000.00 Equipment Outlay 50,000.00 TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS P 475,063.35 “Sec. 3 – This Ordinance takes effect December 01, 1973. Enacted by the Municipal Board on November 13, 1973 and approved by His Honor, MAYOR RAMON D. BAGATSING on December 05, 1973. III. PRESENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MANILA BARANGAY BUREAU The whole Bureau is headed by the City Barangay Affairs Officer, as assisted by a deputy. Accordingly, the Office has two Divisions, namely, the Administrative Division and the Barangay Affairs Division. The former consists of four sections, the Personnel, the Records, the Accounting and Budget and the Property Section. Conversely, the latter comprises the Six (6) Districts, the Legal Section and the Barangay Affairs Division (B.A.D) staff section. Meanwhile, the first division mentioned above deals with the Administrative functions while the second focuses on the Barangay operatio ns. Furthermore, the MBB has a total of 122 regular plantilla. "MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF THE BUREAU"
Manila Barangay Bureau disseminates vital informations to the Barangays on matters related to policies, issuances, programs, projects, laws, ordinances that may affect communities. They also coordinate activities that will conjoin with the program of City and the National Government. Subsequently, with the passing of R.A. 7160 (New Local Code), the MBB widened its functions which include the assistance to the City Mayor in the general supervision of the Barangays pursuant to Sec. 32 of the said Code.
Furthermore, Sec. 455 (b) mandates the City Mayor to visit component Barangays once every six (6) months to find out their conditions and how the City Government can solve their problems, to attain quality of life. Apparently, the Mayor could not perform his diverse functions alone, hence, the need for MBB assistance is necessary. To summarize, the MBB has set its goal of operations, to wit: 1. Dissemination of information to Barangay Officials on matters relative to public policies, projects and programs of the City. 2. Periodic Inspection/monitoring of the 897 barangay and report deficiencies on health and sanitation, obstruction, illegal construction/businesses, etc. 3. Regular inspection/monitoring of barangay project/bidding. 4. Conducts Special Trainings, Seminars, Workshops, touching on Public safety/health, use of radio disaster and likewise conduct other activities like the Search for Outstanding Punong Barangays, Operation Linis, LGU Olympics and others. 5. Receipt of complaints against barangay officials and conducts Fact Finding Investigations, Conciliations and/or Mediations. 6. Administrative Division Functions Serves as the center of all incoming and outgoing communications; prepares the Bureau's proposed annual budgetary appropriation, report of financial transaction (expenditures); takes charge in the maintenance of systematic arrangement of personnel records (201 files, memoranda, Csc issuance, leave credits/applications, other personnel actions); takes charge in the maintenance of cleanliness and orderliness of the Bureau; assist in the implementation of barangay activities; seminars; provides the technical needs of the Bureau like powerpoint presentation; research; picture editing; computer trouble shooting etc. 7. Assists the City Mayor in the extension of medical assistance and other local services thru the Lingap Inyong Maaasahan Office (L.I.M.). 8. Assists the City Mayor in the eradication of drug abuse in Manila thru the Anti-Drug Abuse Council of Manila (ADCOM) by means of preventive education and drug abuse awareness program and projects towards a drug free workplace, Barangay, and school. MISSION
ASSEMBLES A GROWING GROUP WHO ARE ACTIVE, ENERGETIC, RESPONSIBLE AND INNOVATIVE EMPLOYEES IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF WORK AND LIFE. VISION TO HELP, COORDINATE, WORK, IMPLEMENT THE MANILA’S THRUST AND VISION THROUGH, MAYOR ALFREDO S. LIM'S ELEVEN POINT AGENDA AIMED AT EXCELLENCE FOR THE CITY AND PROSPERITY OF ITS CONSTITUENTS. Please Read....
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