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 Philippines portal |
A barangay captain (Filipino: kapitan ng barangay), or a barangay chairman (Filipino: punong barangay), is the highest elected official in a barangay, the smallest level of administrative divisions of the Philippines. Sitios and puroks are sub-divisions of barangays, but their leadership is not elected. As of March 2022, there are 42,046 barangays and therefore 42,046 barangay captains.[1]
The current position was created in 1991 and is a successor to historical positions known variously as cabeza de barangay, barrio lieutenant, and barrio captain.[citation needed]
Along with the college of barangay councilors, captains comprise the Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council). They perform many official government duties, and execute minor judicial powers as part of the Barangay Justice System, such as settling disputes between neighbors. Viewed as village elders, they also work informally with a number of organizations.[citation needed]
Captains are elected for three-year terms. The most recent 2018 Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were held on May 14, 2018.
- ^ Philippine Statistics Authority (2022). Provincial Summary: Number of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities and Barangays, by Region: As of 31 March 2022 (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 1, 2022.