Presidential Decree No. 557 (PD 557) — Declaring All Barrios in the Philippines as Barangays, and for Other Purposes
WHEREAS, the Barangay was the basic political unit existing
in the Philippines before the arrival of the Spaniards;
WHEREAS, it was through the Barangays that our forebears
consulted on matters of community interests;
WHEREAS, the revival of the Barangays under Presidential
Decree No. 86 has contributed considerably in awakening the interest of
our people and broadening their participation in government affairs, the
conduct of their officials, and other matters of public interest;
WHEREAS, the term "barrio" is of foreign origin and
consequently there have been various representations from the Barangays
all over the country to declare all barrios as Barangays:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do
hereby decree and order the following:
SECTION 1. Any provision of existing laws to the contrary
notwithstanding, all existing barrio or barrios that may hereafter be
created are hereby declared as Barangays and all references to the
barrio in any existing laws shall henceforth be understood as references
to the Barangay: Provided, however, That in the case of the City
of Manila and other chartered cities where there are no barrios, all
existing Barangays therein created under Presidential Decree No. 86, as
amended, shall continue as such Barangays.
SEC. 2. Republic Act No. 3590, as amended, otherwise known
as the Revised Barrio Charter, is hereby adopted as the Barangay
Charter.
SEC. 3. All powers and rights vested in or exercised by the
barrio assembly, barrio council and all barrio officials pursuant to
Republic Act No. 3590, and such other powers and rights, appertaining to
or conferred upon them by other laws, shall henceforth be exercised by
the Barangay Assembly, Barangay Council and Barangay officials, and all
duties and responsibilities vested in or conferred upon them by existing
laws shall likewise be performed by the Barangay assemblies, Barangay
councils, and Barangay officials.
SEC. 4. The officials of the barrio as constituted pursuant
to Republic Act No. 3590 shall now be known as Barangay Captain,
Barangay Councilman, Barangay Secretary and Barangay Treasurer.
SEC. 5. This Decree shall take effect immediately upon
approval.
Done in the City of Manila, this 21st day of September, in the
year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ROBERTO V. REYES
Acting Executive Secretary
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
