SCHOOL NAME

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

First Semester S.Y. 2020-2021

MODULE 11
PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND
GOVERNANCE

Name: _______________________________ Date :__________

Grade/Section: ________________________ Week : 11
Track/Strand: _________________________
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE
Lesson 10 POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT: The Third
Republic
WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

After the Second World War and under the joint Resolution No. 93 signed by the United
States of Congress in June 29, 1944, the President of America granted the Independence of the
Philippines in July 4, 1946. After the surrender of the Japanese forces in the Philippines, the
government under Vice President Elpidio Quirino organized the election in1946 for the
National and Local Government and it was organized under the provisions of the 1935
Constitution.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN?

Content Standard:
 The learners demonstrate an understanding of the historical background
of Philippine democratic politics, the executive, the legislative, the
judiciary, and decentralization and local governance.

Performance Standard:
 The learners explain the roles of different political institutions.

Objectives:
After the lesson, the learners should be able to:
1. discuss the transitions of government of the Philippines;
2. identify the Presidents during the Third Republic;
3. evaluate the projects of the different of the different presidents; and
4. analyze the effect of the projects of the presidents in Third Republic to the
government in the present era.

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY

Let’s review your History class by supplying the Data Retrieval Chart below of at least 5
Philippine Presidents that you know and the programs/projects they had during their time.

No
Philippine President Programs/Projects
.

3
 4

THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT

The 1935 Constitution mandated the establishment of the Republican Government

which had the three branches: the Executive branch, the legislative branch and the Judiciary
branch. The official of the branches except from the judiciary were elected by the people.

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

The executive branch was headed by the President who was elected by the people and
has 4 years of term and could be reelected. The President controlled the civil administration
through three levels of organization: the Executive office, headed by the executive secretary
who acted as the adviser of the president, the office of the President which consisted of the head
of the Philippine National Bank, Budget Commission and National Intelligence Coordinating
Agency and the Executive Departments which is composed of the Department of Finance,
Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Public Works and Communication, Department
of Education, Department of Labor, Department of National Defense, Department of Commerce
Department of Industry, Department of General Services and Department of Social Welfare.

The Power and Functions of the Executive Branch

1. The President was the Commander-in-chief of the Forces of the Philippines.

2. The appointments of the officers in the executive and the military.
3. The administration of the Local Governments.
4. The implementation of Law.
5. The Veto Power.
6. The power to Declare Martial Law.
7. The implementation of the different programs of social welfare and for the
development.
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The legislative branch was Bicameral, it was composed of the Upper House or the senate
with 24 elected senators and the Lower House or the House of Representative composed of 120
members from the different districts of the country. The term of office for the senators and
representative was four years with reelection; however, 8 of the 24 members of the senate were
elected every two years and they came from the party list.

The Functions and Power of the Legislative Branch

1. The legislation of laws.

2. The House of Representative had the power to initiate money bills.
3. The Senate had the power to ratify treaties.
4. The Commission on Appointments which prepared the list of the officials that the
president may appoint into office was composed of the senators and the representative.
5. The Chairmen for Appropriation and Revenue also came from the legislative body
making them more powerful than the president.
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
 The Judicial Branch was composed of the Department of Justice which supervised the
lower courts and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court was composed of 11 justices
appointed by the president who would assume office until the age of seventy years old.

The Functions and Power of the Judicial Branch of the Government

1. The analysis if the law was constitutional or unconstitutional.

2. The implementation of justice.

3. The power to declare if the Treaty or Law was unconstitutional by the vote of the two-
thirds of its member.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The composition of the local government during the previous era was maintained;
however, all the administrators in the municipalities were appointed by the president including
the municipal engineers and the superintendent of schools through the National Executive
Department. The country was divided into 68 provinces and 1,430 municipalities, and the local
officials were elected by the people and then the local officials will elect the provincial board
which was composed of three to four members. The local officials would the power to
appropriate budget for the municipalities approved by the National government.

In 1959, President Magsaysay approved the Barrio Charter which gave way to the
election of the officials in Barrio and gave the power to the officers of the Barrio to act as the
executive officers in their area which included the power of the implementation of law from the
National Government and the power to tax and to spend.

In 1967, the Congress passed the Decentralization Act, which allowed to the local
government to get funds directly from the National Budget and not to depend on the Pork
Barrel of the members of the Congress. And due to this act, the members of the Congress lost
their lost to the local government but they also gained the freedom to end their Pork Barrel to
other thin

THE POLITICAL CULTURE

The Cacique System still existed in the politics of the Philippines and the elite continued
to widen their influence in the different areas of the government. The power of the Congress for
their Pork Barrel gave way to the use of funds for the future position in the government. They
usually spent their pork barrel for budget during the year prior to the elections so that the
voters could recognize and remember their projects and they could win the elections. This
system was patronize by the voters and as the result, the voters had the tendency to ask favors
from the candidates in exchange of their support for the elections.

THE PRESIDENTS DURING THE THIRD REPUBLIC

1. MANUEL ACUÑA ROXAS

He assumed office from May 28, 1946- April 15, 1948. After the
restoration of the Commonwealth Government, President Sergio
Osmeña headed the reopening of the congress in June of 1945 together with Manuel Roxas, as
the president of the senate and Jose Zulueta, as the speaker of the house. However, in the 1946
presidential elections, Roxas, together with the new breed of politicians founded another
political party-Liberal party against the Nacionalista party of Osmeña. And the Manuel Roxas
won as the last president or the Commonwealth and the first president of the Third Republic in
the national election held in May 28, 1946. Most of his programs did not materialize because he
died because of heart attack in April 15, 1948 and his vice president, Elpidio Quirino succeeded
him.

The Programs and Projects

1. The allocation of 300 million dollars that the Philippine government received from the United
States of America in accordance to War Damage Act for the reconstruction.
2. The granting of Parity Rights to the Americans.
3. The Granting of General amnesty to those charge of collaboration.
4 The establishment of the Rehabilitation Finance Corporation to administer the reconstruction.
5. The Agricultural Tenancy Act which mandates the fair division of the products to the Land
lord and the tenant.
6. The creation of the five-year development plan that will establish five industrial centers in
different parts of the country.
Challenges

1. The issue regarding the collaboration of the high officials of the Commonwealth government
to Japanese government in the Philippines during the Second World War.
2. The rebellion of Luis Taruc, the leader of the Hukbalahap because of the Bell Trade Act, the
failure of the land reform and the discrimination that they experienced in Congress
3. The dependency of the economy of the Philippines to the Americans because of the free trade.
2. ELPIDIO RIVERA QUIRINO

President Elpidio Quirino assumed office from April 15,

1948 December 30 1953. He continued the term of office of
President Manuel Roxas when the later died in heart attack. A
politician from Ilocos Sur, a good orator and a law graduate
from University of the Philippines, he was designated as
delegate to the International Bar Conference in Peking and able
to practice his profession as a lawyer in United States District
Court of China and Federal Supreme Court. In the history of
election, his reign was considered to be the most cheated
election however, after his term the people realized the
importance of his projects. He was misunderstood because he
never explained to the public his rationale and his actions but
his administration aimed for two things, the restoration of the faith of the people to the
government and economic development.

Programs

1. The creation the Central Bank to stabilize the currency in June 15, 1949.
2. The continuation of the land reform program implemented by the former President Manuel
Roxas.
3. The expansion of the irrigation system to increase the agricultural products such as the
Burgos irrigation project in Zambales.
4. The construction of roads and bridges to foster the trading between provinces like the road
connecting the different places in Zamboanga.
5. The amnesty for the members of Hukbalahap.
6. The Magna Carta of Labor and the Minimum Wage Law.
7. The growth of the Foreign Service.
Challenges
1. The rebellion of the Hukbalahap.
2. The assassination of Aurora Quezon, the wife of Manuel L. Quezon.
3. The dependency of the Philippine economy to the United States of America.
4. The political conflict brought by the rivalry of the Nacionalista and the Liberal Party.
In 1953 election, he sought reelection but he lost the election and the younger politician
under Nacionalista party, Ramon Magsaysay won. He then retired and lived in a simple life in
their house in Novaliches. In February 28, 1956 he died because of heart attack.

3. RAMON DEL FIERRO MAGSAYSAY

He assumed office from December 30, 1953 March 17,

1957. Ramon Magsaysay was known as the Champion of the
Masses. He was the first President who opened Malacañang to
the ordinary people. He could visit in the different parts of the
country without his body guards because according to him he
had nothing to fear and mingled and ate together with the
masses. His charisma made Luis Taruc and the other members
to Hukbalahap to surrender and believed the amnesty offered
by the government. In March 17, 1957, the country was shocked
by the news that the Mt. Pinatubo, the plane which carried the
president and his entourage crashed on the slopes of Mt.
Manunggal in Cebu. His term of office was continued by Carlos
P. Garcia.

The Programs

1. The establishment of the Court of Agrarian Relation for the disputes in regards to the land
owning and land reforms.
2. The creation of the NARRA (National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration) which
helps the landless farmers for their resettlement.
3. The establishment of FACOMA (Farmers Cooperative and Marketing Administration) to help
the farmers in the distribution and selling of their goods.
4. The reorganization of the Armed Forces and the Philippine Constabulary.
5. The establishment of ACCFA (Agricultural Credit and Cooperative Financing
Administration) which aim to assist the farmers in finding markets for their product and to
educate the framers on the new methods of farming.
6. The introduction of the new method of Farming like the Masagana system which aim to
increase the rice production.
7. The construction of road, bridges, additional irrigations and the deep well in the provinces.
8. The opening of the Malacañang for the ordinary Filipino citizens.

Challenges

1. He was accused as a Pro American because his foreign policies were in line with the US
policies such as the signing in the agreement against the spread of communism in the South
East Asia (SEATO).
2. The conflict against Claro M. Recto because of foreign policy.
3. The issue of his betrayal to the trust given by Benigno Aquino Jr. that the surrender of Luis
Taruc would be considered as the return to the government of Taruc. The verdict of Luis Taruc
contributed to the distrust of the other members of Hukbalahap to the government.
4. CARLOS POLISTICO GARCIA
He assumed office as president from March 17, 1957-
December 30, 1961. The author of the Filipino First Policy which
prioritized the Filipino products over the foreign products and
austerity program for the government. During the 1957 election,
he did not attain the support of the Nacionalista party but he
proved them wrong because he won in the election. In
November, 1961 he experienced his first defeat in election.
Diosdado Macapagal of Liberal party won with an advantage of
more than 600,000 votes.
The Programs
1. The Filipino First Policy which aimed to strengthen the role of
the local producers in the Philippine market by encouraging the
Filipino to buy the locally made products.
2. The control the exchange of foreign currencies.
3. The encouragement of the Filipino business community to invest in the industry by giving
them incentives and protection against competition.
4. The austerity program which aimed to cut-off the expenditure of the government.
5. The request for the war damage cost that the United Stated had not yet granted to the
Philippines.
6. The revisions of the some provisions of the Military Bases Agreement signed by Manuel
Roxas and his efforts resulted to Ramos-Bohlen Treaty which shortens the years of the US
military bases in the country from 99 years to 25 years.
Challenges
1. The conflict against Diosdado Macapagal because he did not appoint the later to his cabinet
to avoid.
2. His opponents accused him of corruption because under his administration the government
purchased a private plane and other transportation even though it is essential to the functions
of the government because this will violate his austerity program.
5. DIOSDADO PANGAN MACAPAGAL

He assumed office as president from December 30, 1961 -

December 30, 1965. The poor farmer from Lubao, Pampanga was
able to rise from poverty because of his intelligence. In spite of his
struggle for finances, he was able to graduate ahead of his class in
the college of Law in University of Santo Tomas and emerged as
topnotcher of the batch. As a member of the Congress, he worked
for the legislation of different laws to elevate the situation of the
famers and the people in the rural area. In 1965 elections, he was
defeated by his former co-Liberal party who transferred to
Nacionalista party-Ferdinand Marcos.

Programs
1. The Agricultural Land Reform code which aimed to give land to the landless.
2. The Five Year socioeconomic program to stimulate the different sectors of the society.
3. Establishment of Philippine Veterans Bank and Asian Development Bank in Manila that
would help the business Community in terms of capital.
4. The construction of the tenement houses to solve the problem in housing of the people in
Manila.
5. The use of miracle rice or IR-8 under the International Rice Research Institute to increase the
production of rice.
6. The commencement of the construction of North Dimension Highway and the South
Expressway.
7. The implementation of the 7 pesos minimum wage for the welfare of the workers.
8. The establishment of the Private Development Corporation
9. The Changing of the Day of the Declaration of Independence Day from July 4 to June 12.
10. The proposal for the creation of the organization among the countries in the South East Asia,
like the MaPhilIndo (Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia).
11. The negotiation to the Malaysia regarding the rights of the Philippines to the Sabah because
according to the documents, Sabah was rented by the British to the chieftain of Sulu. However
the claim of the Philippines to Sabah was disregarded because of some technicalities.
Challenges
1. He did not succeed in strengthening the Peso and the dependency of the Filipino to the
American products.
2. He was also accused as Pro-American and corrupt.
3. He did not win the support of the Legislative body.

1. After the Second World War, the Philippines established Republican

government with the aide of the American Government.
2. The government was divided into three branches, the executive, legislative and
judiciary.
3. The government passed a law which give power to the local government in line
with the decentralization policy.
4. The presidents during the Third Republic were Manuel A. Roxas, Elpidio
Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal and
Ferdinand Marcos.

ASSESSMENT

Identify the President who implemented the following programs. Write the answer in
the space before the number.

____________________________1. FACOMA
____________________________2. Bell Trade Act
____________________________3. Austerity Program
____________________________4. Amnesty for the HUKBALAHAP
____________________________5. ACCFA
____________________________6. The Land reform Act
____________________________7. The Rehabilitation of the Country
____________________________8. The establishment of the Philippine Veterans Bank and Asian
Development Bank in Manila that will help the business
community in terms of capital.
____________________________9. The construction of the tenant houses to solve the problem in
housing of the people in Manila.
____________________________10. The control exchange of foreign currencies.
____________________________11. The encouragement of the Filipino business community to
invest in the industry by giving them incentives and
protection against competition.
____________________________12. The use of rice or IR-8 under the International Rice Research
Institute to increase the production of rice.
_____________________________13. The expansion of the irrigation system to increase the
agricultural products such as the Burgos irrigation project in
Zambales.
_____________________________14. The construction of roads and bridges to foster the trading
between provinces like the road connecting the different
places in Zamboanga.
_____________________________15. The Agricultural Tenancy Act which mandates the fair
division of the products to the Land lord and the tenant.
_____________________________16. The implementation of the 7 pesos minimum wage for the
welfare of the workers.
_____________________________17. The commencement of the construction of North
Dimension Highway and the South Expressway.
_____________________________18. The creation of the five-year development plan that will
establish five industrial centers in different parts of the
country.
_____________________________19. The establishment of the Private Development Corporation.
_____________________________20. The Changing of the Day of the Declaration of
Independence Day from July 4 to June 12.

TEACHER’S FEEDBACK

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

REFERENCE

Francisco, P. & Francisco, V. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance for Senior High
School. Mindshappers Co., Inc., Intamuros, Manila.