Funding of the Barangay

Chairman Silvano admitted that Barangay Little Baguio’s budget allocation from the central government is just enough to make ends meet and cannot support patrol reforms that entail significant costs. Unfortunately, most reforms – even mere changes in organization or functions – involve costs. For example, the increase in manpower necessitated more honorarium. Even the creation of three different functions required equipment to allow mobility for the roaming duo and communication among the three five members of the shift. Equipment, if ever they are acquired, are subject to depreciation and maintenance costs. To augment general deterrent capabilities of patrols and bolster their capacity to intervene (even if the police force is more equipped to intervene in crime scenarios), more equipment for apprehending are required. Even the training of patrols includes some costs. Given that the patrol has achieved some of the seemingly financially-problematic improvements, how has it funded those improvements?

Clearly, the barangay budget can only cover the maintenance of a system similar to the previous one and major equipment acquisition is not feasible in the short term. Chairman Silvano’s connections provided the means to acquire equipment. For example, Colonel Tocino provided uniforms to the tanods, making them more visible and recognizable as enforcers of security and order. Congressman donated the Suzuki Multi-cab which was converted to a dedicated patrol vehicle.

Aside from the chairman’s connections, some more subtle resources support the patrol system. The culture in the Barangay Hall seems has evolved into a system which encourages the patrol teams to stay in the service. For example, he barangay hall provides meals for the patrol teams.
Undeniably, the most potent source of funding is the barangay’s internal budget itself. Chairman Silvano expressed regret that Little Baguio cannot get its appropriate internal revenue allocation because a considerable number of people are suspected to be unaccounted in the population census. For example, the “busy” middle class may not bother participating in the census. Furthermore, he speculated that many who live in the high-rise residential towers are not accounted in the census. The inaccurate population count frustrates Chairman Silvano because it is a basis for the allocation of funds from the government. He said that he would consider some steps to allow more accurate population counts in the future.