Katarungang Pambarangay Law in the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas: Input to program enhancement

Despite the KatarungangPambarangay's long existence, its efficiency varies greatly amongst barangays, especially in rapidly urbanising areas. The purpose of this descriptive study was to look into the difficulties associated with implementing the KatarungangPambarangay Law in specific barangays in the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The need for this investigation emerged from documented performance differences, particularly in the LupongTagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA). While some barangays routinely exceed LTIA standards, others fall short owing to operational, financial, and procedural issues. A researcher-created questionnaire and document analysis were used to collect data from Lupon members, barangay authorities, and chosen barangay residents, who totalled 320. Using the Kruskal-Wallis test, the study identified several barriers to effective implementation: low resident knowledge, insufficient training of barangay officials, uneven mediation and conciliation methods, and poor documentation and record-keeping. The findings highlight the urgent need for capacity-building initiatives, clearer procedural enforcement, and improved budgetary support to improve barangays' performance in providing community justice. Strengthening the KatarungangPambarangay system is critical to fostering accessible, restorative justice and reducing the backlog of the formal legal system.