[5] The Local Government Code of the Philippines sets out the basic duties and responsibilities of a tanod.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government provides training and a fuller definition of the tanod's duties.

[5] Tanods may also either be unarmed or armed with simply a baton or a bolo knife, the latter a type of machete.

While often described as volunteers,[6] tanods may be receiving some payment and other benefits[2] paid out of the barangay's, municipality's, or city's funds,[7] most of which would come from the Internal Revenue Allotment supplemented by other sources.

Tanods in different parts of the country may be receiving different pay rates and benefits, being dependent on the wealth as well as needs of their local communities.