11/12/22, 11:43 PM 122 - Maj 2 - Politics & Govern.

: 01A Lesson Proper for Week 11

    The Constitution of the Philippines acknowledges the significance of local governments. It gives as an approach that the State will
ensure and advance the sovereignty of the local government units to guarantee their fullest improvement as self-reliant communities.

         Local governments comprise the foundations of the whole structure of the public authority. The acts of the local government
units influence the common resident more straightforwardly than those of the national government. The normal resident has more
and closer contacts with the local government and their offices than with the national government, and is more concerned about the
local undertakings than with those of the national in scope.

         The President of the Philippines displays supervision over the entire country. Yet, for reasons for administrative control, the
Philippines is divided into units of various sizes – known as political subdivisions. These are provinces, municipalities, cities, and
barangays. These political subdivisions enjoy autonomy, particularly in local issues. Nonetheless, they are also under the general
supervision of the Chief Executive, through the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). These local
governments are offices of the national government in the issue of collection of taxes, law enforcement, and other governmental
functions, which may be delegated by the national government to these local governments.

PROVINCES
         The provincial government takes care of the functions which affect the people of a certain province. The province is the largest
political unit in the Philippines. It possesses the following powers:

1. to acquire and transfer real and personal properties;

         There are 81 provinces in the Philippines. They are classified according to their average income for five consecutive years. The
higher the income of the province, the higher is its classification. The salaries that can be paid to the provincial officials depend upon
the class to which it belongs. Higher salaries are paid to the officials of the higher-class provinces. A province elects its executives -
the governor, vice governor, and the members of the provincial board. There are three vocales in the first, second, and third-class
provinces, and two in the other classes of provinces. The rest of the provincial officials - like the provincial treasurer, provincial
assessor, district auditor, judges of the Regional Trial courts, provincial fiscal, division superintendent of schools, district health
officer, district engineer, and register of deeds - are all appointed by the corresponding departments of the national government.
However, under the New Local Government Code, they are the administrative control of the provincial governor. The officials are
elected by the citizens of the province. Once elected, they hold office for three years. They cannot serve for more than three
consecutive terms. The provincial governor exercises general supervisory powers over the entire province. He also makes known to
the people of his province all laws and orders of the government, especially those which directly concern them and sees to it that
they are faithfully carried out. He acquaints himself with the conditions of the municipalities comprising the province and advises local
officials in matters affecting their official work.

         The provincial board is the law-making body of the province, with the provincial governor serving as the presiding officer. Some
of its most important functions are as follows:
1. it passes laws for the welfare of the municipalities and cities within its jurisdiction;
2. it prepares and approves the provincial budget;
3. it appropriates money for provincial purposes;
4. it exercises the power of eminent domain; and
5. it provides for the maintenance of equipment and buildings for provincial purposes. 

The board holds a regular weekly meeting upon a day fixed by it. Special meetings, however, may be called by the provincial
governor on any day.

MUNICIPALITIES
         Each province is composed of municipalities commonly called towns. The municipality is a public corporation created by an act
of congress and is governed by the Municipality Law, which defines its duties and powers. Being public corporations, municipalities
can sue or be sued in court; enter into contracts; acquire and hold real and personal properties for municipal purposes; and exercise
such other powers as are granted by law. Municipalities are classified according to their average annual income for the last four fiscal
years. There are 1,540 municipalities in the Philippines. They are autonomous units of government and have elective and appointive
officials. The elective officials are the municipal mayor, vice mayor, and councilors. They are elected by the qualified voters for a term
of three years. They cannot serve for more than three consecutive terms. The appointive officials are the municipal secretary,
treasurer, justice of the peace, and chief of police. The municipal mayor is the chief executive officer of the town. His main functions
are:
1. to execute all laws and municipal ordinances;
2. to supervise the administration of the town;
3. to issue orders relative to the maintenance of peace and order;
4. to preside over the meetings of the municipal council; and
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11/12/22, 11:43 PM 122 - Maj 2 - Politics & Govern.: 01A Lesson Proper for Week 11

5. to recommend measures to the municipal council aimed at the improvement of the social and economic conditions of the
people.

         The municipal council is the lawmaking body of the town and is composed of the mayor -- who is the chairman of the council --
vice mayor, and the councilors. The number of councilors for each municipality depends upon the class to which the municipality
belongs. Each councilor is in-charge of a village or barangay. Some of the more important mandatory powers of the municipal
council are the following:
1. to fix the salaries of all municipal offices and employees, except the treasurer, teachers in the public schools, and staff of
national government agencies assigned to the municipality;
2. to provide for expenses necessary to carry out the functions of the municipality;
3. to provide for buildings adequate for municipal uses, including school houses;
4. to provide for the levy and collection of taxes, fees, and charges as sources of municipal revenue; and
5. to establish and maintain an efficient police department and an adequate municipal jail.

CITIES
         The chartered city is also a unit of local administration. It is created by a special law which serves as its charter. The charter is
the constitution of the city. The charter creates the city, defines its boundaries, provides its system of government, and defines the
powers and duties of its officials. A city or any of its officials cannot perform any official act which is not permitted by its charter. The
city elective officials are the mayor, vice mayor, and the members of the board of councilors. They are elected for a term of three
years. They cannot serve for more than three consecutive terms. The mayor is the executive official of the city, aided by the
appointive heads of the various departments. The vice mayor is the presiding officer of the board. And the city courts exercise
judicial functions. The lawmaking body of the city is council. Among its important functions are as follows:
1. to levy and collect taxes in accordance with law;
2. to enact ordinances;
3. to provide for public works constructions and for the maintenance of a local police force;
4. to establish fire zones within the city and to regulated the type of building which may be constructed within each zone;
and
5. to provide for the protection of the inhabitants from public calamities and to provide relied in times of emergency. There
are 67 chartered cities in the Philippines.

BARANGAYS
         Each municipality or city is composed of a number of villages or barangays. The barangays are the smallest units of local
government in the Philippines. They are governed by the Barrio Charter. The elective officials of the barangays are the Barangay
Captain and the Barangay Councilors. As chief executive, the barangay captain is its recognized leader. He enforces all the laws and
ordinances applicable to his constituency. He may organize fire brigades, preside over all meetings both of the barangay council and
assembly, organize groups of citizens to fight criminality and brigandage, and approve all payments from barangay funds. He also
signs all contracts in which the barangay is a party. There are 41, 945 barangays in the Philippines. They are public corporations and
so, they can sue and be sued in court; can enter into contracts, can acquire and hold all kinds of property; and can exercise such
powers or perform such acts as are provided by law.

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