Local Government

LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
Evolution of Local Government in
the Philippines
◦ Local Government in the Philippines has its roots in the colonial administration
of Spain, which lasted in the Philippines for 327 years.
◦ The establishment of Cebu in 1565 started the local government system.
◦ An important Spanish law on local governments was the "Maura law of 1893",
which allowed Filipinos to vote for their local officials.
◦ After Spain, the United States came into power in the early 1900s and
'Filipinized' local government administration.
◦ The Americans issued General Order No. 43.
◦ The last 50 years of the twentieth century saw several developments towards
decentralization.
◦ The Local Autonomy Act of 1959
◦ Decentralization Act of 1967
◦ The struggle for decentralization over the past 50 years-culminated in the
passage of the "Local Government Code in October 1991."
Local Government Units (LGUs) in
the Philippines
◦Local government is a subordinate territorial unit
that owes its creation and existence to a state
and that derives its powers from general laws or
from charters or other specific grants made by
that state (Jacoben & Lipman in Ayson & Reyes,
2000).
◦It possesses the basic elements of territory,
population and continuous organization (Yu-Jose
et al, 1999).
There are four units of local
government in the Philippines as
stated in Article X, Section 1 of the
1987 Constitution:
1. BARANGAY
◦ The basic unit of government.
◦ made up atleast 2000 inhabitants
◦ serves as a forum where people's interests and opinions on local and national
issues are articulated.
◦ serves as a venue for settling neighborhood disputes.
◦ headed by the punong barangay, through the lupong tagapamayapa, or
conciliation council and katarungang pambarangay or dispute settlement
body, and Barangay tanods.
2. CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
◦ composed of several barangays.
◦ have greater capability in province.
◦ According to the Local Government Code of 1991, a CITY must have annual income of
atleast P20 million, land area atleast 50 square kilometers and population of not at least
than 150,000 inhabitants. MUNICIPALITIES, must have an annual income at least P2.5
million but not more than P20 million, a land area of at least 2.5 square kilometers, and
a population at least 25,000 inhabitants.
There are three types of cities in the country depending on their levels of autonomy and
economic development.
• Highly urbanized city or that is independent from the province;
• Component city or one which is under the supervision of the province; and
• Independent component city or one attached to a province but whose residents
cannot vote provincial officials. - Heading the city or municipality is a Mayor as its Chief
Executive, followed by the Vice-Mayor and the City or Municipality Council.
3. PROVINCE
◦ defined in the Local Government Code of 1991, consists of cities and municipalities
◦ has an area of atleast 2,000 square kilometers with a population of at least 250,000
inhabitants.
◦ It provides more specialized services which smaller LGUs cannot provide, owing to their
limited resources.
The basic functions of every province in the Philippines are the following:
•Supervision- Every provincial government is tasked with supervising the municipal governments in
the planning, budgetting and service delivery process.
•Developmental- facilitating economic development of municipalities within the jurisdiction of a
provincial government by paving the way for transfer of technology and the granting of agricultural
assistance to farmers.
•Environmental- This is associated with the enforcement of laws and ordinances relating to the
preservation of the environment.
• Health- Provincial governments provide tertiary health services, in addition to what are provided
by each municipality.
◦ Heading the provincial government is the Governor, the Vice-Governor, and the
Provincial Council or Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Autonomous Regions, and Regional
Councils.
THE CREATION OF AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MINDANAO AND CORDILLERAS IS
MANDATED BY THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION OF THE PHILIPPINES
◦ In 1989, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was created

through legislation. -In 2001, a New Organic Act of the ARMM was passed
which incorporated the government's agreement with the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF).
◦ The ARMM consists of the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu,
Tawi-tawi and Basilan.
Powers exercised by ARMM as defined by RA No. 6734 are as follows:
•To create and establish an administrative and political organization;
•To create sources of revenues;
•To select its own leaders; and
•To exploit the wealth of the region.
◦ There are two administrative regions which merely serve
as coordinating bodies to fast track development in
their respective areas. These are the Cordillera
Administrative Region and Caraga Administrative
Region ,covering the provinces of Surigao del Sur,
Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, and the cities of
Butuan and Marawi.
◦ The Metro-Manila Development Authority (MMDA),
likewise has the same functions.
General functions and powers
All local government units are tasked with
the following general functions:
◦ Efficient delivery of basic services to the people;
◦ Proper management of the environment
◦ Promotion of economic development; and
◦ Poverty Alleviation.
Local governments are likewise empowered to
exercise their corporate powers as provided for in
Section 22 of the Local Government Code. These
powers are as follows:
◦ To have continous succession of its corporate name;
◦ To sue and be sued;
◦ To have and use a corporate seal;
◦ To acquire and convey real or personal property;
◦ To enter into contacts; and
◦ To exercise such other powers as are granted to corporations,
subject to limitations provided in the Local Government Code
and other laws.
Autonomy of Local Government
Units
◦Article X Section 2 of the Constitution
guarantees the enjoyment of local
autonomy by the different territorial and
political subdivisions of the country.
Control and Supervision of
LGUs
◦The President of the Philippines
exercises general supervision
over local government.
Sources of Revenue
◦Each local government unit has to power to
create its own sources or revenues and to levy
taxes, fees and charges subject to the guidelines
and limitations provided by Congress and
consistent with the basic policy of local
autonomy.
Term of Office of Elective Local
Officials
◦The term of office of elective officials, exept
barangay officials, is three years, and no
such officials shall serve for more than three
consecutive terms.
Problems, Issues and Concerns
Relating to Devolution Under the
Local Government Code of 1991
◦ Inability of the LGUs to carry out devolved functions;
◦ Inadequacy of the internal revenue shares of the LGUs to meet
the budgetary requirement of the devolved function, programs
and projects;
◦ Continued to lack of budgetary support from the national
government for the full implementation of devolved tertiary
health services;
◦ Interference of national goverment in personnel and fiscal
management of the local goverment units;
◦ The need to further broaden the tax base of local government
unit; and

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◦ In 1989, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was created

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