ASSESSMENT OF BARANGAY JUSTICE OF BARANGAY IV, LUCENA CITY IN SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES FROM 2011 – 2013: AN IMPLICATION TO IMPROVEMENT OF POLICY AND PROCEDURES IN BARANGAY JUSTICE SYSTEM

The researchers came up to conduct this study to assess the barangay justice of Barangay IV, Lucena City in settlement of disputes from 2011-2013. This is to ascertain the fact concerning the present status of the barangay justice. The study used the descriptive method of research specifically descriptive survey and document analysis. Cases handled were extracted from the record of barangay and questionnaires were distributed to the fifty (50) respondents including barangay officials, members of the community, complainants as well as the offender and witnesses. The data were analyzed and interpreted to arrive at a better and clearer understanding of the study. Findings revealed that most of the residents are female, 46-50 years old, majority of them are married, high school graduate with 25 and more years of stay in the barangay. Majority of criminal and civil cases handled are settled by the barangay justice. Based on the records from the barangay it also found out that the level of effectiveness of barangay justice in resolving cases is very high because out of the total 223 criminal cases, 207 were settled in the barangay justice level, 16 were endorsed in court. While in civil cases all of the 105 filed cases were resolved by the barangay justice. It shows that barangay justice is an effective means in terms of settling disputes. The study also shows that the level of awareness of the residents in barangay justice law was found to be high because the residents itself know the role of barangay justice in the community. There are only a few problems encountered in the implementation of barangay justice. It is recommended that the chairman of the barangay should post in the strategic places the qualification, qualified members, as well as the members, name in order for the residents to be more aware of how to become a member and who is the member of Lupong Tagapamayapa as well as The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the officials of Barangay IV, Lucena City should conduct seminar/ or lecture forum regarding barangay justice law together with the residents of barangay and Lupon members this is to arouse people’s conciousness on the intention and objectives of barangay justice law.