AN ORDINANCE STRENGTHENING THE TANOD BRIGADES BY DEFINING THEIR ROLES, GRANTING BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES TO THE MEMBERS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF

WHEREAS, Section 16 of the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 expressly states every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare;

WHEREAS, Section 17 of the Code provides that local government units shall likewise exercise such other powers and discharge such other functions and responsibilities as are necessary, appropriate, or incidental to efficient and effective provisions of the basic services and facilities;

WHEREAS, under Section 391 (a) (16) of the LGC, the Sangguniang barangay, as the legislative body of the barangay, shall provide for the organization of community brigade, barangay tanod, or community service unit as may be necessary;

WHEREAS, Section 393 (d) of the LGC states that all duly appointed members of the Barangay Tanod brigades or their equivalent, which number shall not be more than twenty (20) in each barangay, shall be granted insurance or other benefits during their incumbency, chargeable to the barangay of the city or municipal government to which the barangay belongs;

WHEREAS, A Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2018 - 01 dated May 21, 2018 issued by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Dangerous Drugs Board (DBB) states that Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) Auxiliary Team shall be composed of at least 25 members per 2,000 per barangay population;

WHEREAS, the Barangay Tanods are force multipliers in the implementation of peace and order programs.

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Ordinance shall be known as the "Barangay Tanod Code of the Municipality of Roxas".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the Municipality of Roxas to maintain peace and order, promote public safety and adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach towards peace and order, and public safety programs, policies and activities which shall endeavor to make the municipality a peaceful and safe town. Henceforth, it is indispensable to empower, professionalize and at the same time, improve the social well-being and welfare of the members of the Baranga Tanod who are the frontliners of delivering public services at the grassroots level. Towards this end, the municipality shall adopt said programs, policies and activities that will improve not only the services to the public but will guarantee their capabilities and enhance their quality of life.

SECTION 3. Purpose. — This Ordinance aims to empower and grant benefits and incentives to the members of Barangay Tanod in order to inspire and motivate them to sustain and improve further their services rendered to the general public.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — The following terms as used in this Ordinance shall be understood to mean as follows a. Barangay Tanods - refer to all duly appointed members of the barangay tanod brigades and are tasked to assist the barangay officials in maintaining peace and order and in promoting public safety in the barangay, among others b. Barangay Tanod Brigade- refers to a group composed of barangay tanods in every barangay. c. Chief Tanod - means the head of Barangay Tanod Brigade designated by the Punong Barangay d. Punong Barangay - is the highest elected official in the barangay and has the authority to appoint barangay tanod upon the recommendation of the Barangay Peace and Order Committee (BPOC). e. Roxas MPS - means the Roxas Municipal Police Station.

SECTION 5. Coverage. — This Ordinance shall cover the Barangay Tanods who are on active status and regularly performing their duties and functions in maintaining peace and order and promoting public safety in their respective barangay of the Municipality of Roxas.

SECTION 6. Qualifications of Barangay Tanods. — A Barangay Tanod shall meet the following: a. A Filipino citizen b. Must be a resident for at least six (6) months; c. Must be a registered voter d. At least 18 years of age but not more than 60 years old; e. Can read and write; f. Of good moral character; g. Physically and mentally fit, and h. Graduate or undergraduate of any course

In the absence of qualified volunteers, any retired government employee, police or military personnel/officers who are residents of a barangay may be appointed as Barangay Tanod in the barangay.

SECTION 7. Organization and Composition of Barangay Tanod Brigade. — A Barangay Tanod Brigade shall be composed of not less than ten (10) members and not more than 25 members depending on the population of the concerned barangay. It shall be organized into teams and will be composed of a team leader and two (2) to four (4) members. The Punong Barangay shall designate a Chief Tanod who will act as a leader of the whole Barangay Tanod Brigade: Provided, that, the Chief Tanod shall assign a team leader per each team composed in a Barangay Tanod Brigade: Provided, further, that barangays shall not discriminate the recruitment of volunteers based on their gender and sexuality, and are highly encouraged to recruit women whose membership should not be more than twenty percent (20%) of composition of the Barangay Tanod Brigade to serve as Barangay Tanod in order to promote gender equality, women empowerment, and participation of the whole community.

SECTION 8. Confirmation, Term, and Renewal of Appointment. — A Barangay Tanod shall be appointed by the Punong Barangay upon recommendation of the Barangay Peace and Order Committee (BPOC). The term of an appointed Barangay Tanod shall be coterminous with that of the Punon Barangay, except that the appointment may be revoked for a valid cause, such as: 1. Commission of crime involving moral turpitude 2. Gross neglect of duty 3. For other causes that the BPOC may determine 4. Voluntary resignation Renewal of appointment shall require a favorable recommendation of the BPOC. In case of any replacement due to the expiration of appointments, voluntary resignation, or for other causes, the BPOC shall submit the name of the replacement to the Punong Barangay for approval.

SECTION 9. Supervision and Deployment. — The Barangay Tanods shall be supervised by the Punong Barangay and their basic operational area shall be their own barangay: Provided, however, that they may be deployed outside their area of responsibility when requested to assist in other barangays upon written request addressed to the concerned Punong Barangay.

The requesting barangay shall provide an additional honorarium based on barangay ordinance or resolution for the services rendered by the Barangay Tanods in the barangay:

SECTION 10. Equipment. — Barangay Tanods shall be equipped with the following, but not limited to: 1. Uniform- Jeans, white t-shirt or any barangay prescribed shirt, barangay vest, cap, rubber shoes, and Barangay Tanod Identification (ID) card. 2. Paraphernalia a. Baton with belt and holster b. Tear gas c. Two-way radio d. Handcuff with holster (or loop lock as an alternative) e. Whistle f. Flashlight g. Raincoat h. Rain boots i. Notepad and pen j. First aid kit

If the funds or resources of the barangay are insufficient to shoulder and provide the foregoing items, the most important equipment and paraphernalia shall be the prioritized by the concerned barangay upon the recommendation of the BPOC. The basic radio communication may be provided by the LGU-Roxas subject to the availability of its funds.

SECTION 11. Duties and Responsibilities. — Under the supervision of the Punong Barangay, the roles of the Barangay Tanods to maintain peace and order shall be the following: 1. Assist the barangay officials in the prevention of crime and the promotion of public safety; 2. Conduct patrol/ronda in the barangay; 3. Report to the concerned barangay officials, or Roxas MPS the occurrence of any crime, fire, accident, public disturbance, environmental degradation activities, and other untoward incidents in the barangay; 4. Monitor the presence or activities of suspicious persons, criminals, and other lawless elements within their jurisdiction and report the same to the Roxas MPS; 5. Conduct surveillance on crime breeding areas within the barangay/purok and report their observations/findings to the Roxas MPS; 6. Assist the Roxas MPS and the Lupon Tagapamayapa in the execution of warrants and other judicial processes such as tracking the whereabouts of missing persons, arresting fugitives, and recovery of stolen properties; 7. Coordinate closely with the barangay officials and Roxas MPS in the drive against all forms of crimes such as terrorism, smuggling, carapping, drug trafficking, and pushing, illegal gambling, child abuse, crime against women, and all forms of vices and syndicated crimes; 8. Assist in the implementation of the Fire Code of the Philippines; 9. Detect all forms of fire hazards and other public safety hazards/violations and institute corrective measures within their capability; 10. Assist in facilitating the smooth flow of traffic;