DECENTRALIZAT

ION AND LOCAL

GOVERNANCE
DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL
GOVERNANCE
Local Government

• Local government encompasses provinces, cities, municipalities, and

barangays, which are referred to as local government units (LGUs).
• The local government is organized in accordance with the concept of
decentralization, where local sectors of government are given
powers and adequate support by the national government in
managing their local affairs. The LGUs are given a portion of the
national budget but are also authorized to identify sources of
revenue through local taxes and other sources of income.
• The local government units also have local councils which serve as the
legislative body of their respective units. All laws created by these local
councils, however, should comply with national laws.

• Article X of the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code of 1991
are the primary bases for the organization and administration of local
government units in the country. In particular, the Local Government Code of
1991 outlines the means by which a local government unit is identified and
organized, as well as provisions from law enforcement, local taxation, fiscal
management, a d coordination with the national government. The LGUs are
subject to supervision by the President, through the Department of Interior
and Local Government (DILG). The DILG also assists LGUs in terms of law
enforcement, legislation, and recovery from calamities.
Barangay Government
• The barangay is the basic unit of local government in the Philippines.
This is where governance directly relates to the concerns of citizens
and communities, and where the government programs and policies
are applied and directly impact the lives of citizens. These are seen in
various activities such as the implementation of dispute settlements,
policies on peace and order, infrastructure projects, and health
programs.
• The barangay is also the forum where citizens are able to directly
express their opinions and give suggestions to public officials. In order
for an area to be identified as a barangay, it must have a population of
2,000. For highly urbanized areas, such as metro Manila and other
metropolitan areas, a barangay must have at least 5,000 inhabitants.
• The barangay government serves as the executive, legislative, and
arbitration body of the barangay. Its chief executive is the Punong
Barangay or the Barangay Captain, who performs functions such as
the enforcements of laws and ordinances; maintaining peace and
order; supervising the planning of the barangay’s annual and
additional budget and other financial concerns; and leading meetings
with other members of the barangay government.
• The barangay captain and other barangay officials comprise the
barangay government. Other appointive officials in the barangay
government include the barangay secretary, who keeps and updates
the records of the meetings of the barangay government; and the
barangay treasurer, who releases and keeps track of the barangay
government’s funds. The Sangguniang Barangay, meanwhile, is the
legislative council which is composed of seven members.
• This council undertakes the formulation and passage of ordinances and
budget plans. It also performs other functions, such as establishing and
promoting barangay cooperatives; organizing lectures on literacy and health;
and authorizing the Punong Barangay to sign contracts on behalf of the
barangay.

• The Lupong Tagapamayapa or Lupon serves as the dispute settlement, it can

also address some legal issues in cases brought before them. In addition, the
Lupon also forwards cases where conciliation has failed to the appropriate
courts. The Sangguniang Kabataan, meanwhile, is the youth council of the
barangay which conducts programs aimed at promoting the welfare of the
youth. The council is composed of a chairman, secretary, treasurer, and seven
council members.
Municipal Government
• Also referred to as the bayan, a municipality is defined as a
collection of barangays, and is organized based on the
following criteria: (1) the constituent communities must earn
an average annual income of 2,500,000 for at least two
years; (2) it must have a population of at least 25,000, and
(3) it must have a territory with adjacent lands of at least 50
square kilometers.
• The chief executive of the municipal government is the municipal
mayor. The municipal mayor is primarily in charge of the
implementation of government policies and programs within his or
her jurisdiction.
• He or she also performs tasks such as the promulgation and
enforcement of laws within the jurisdiction of the municipality,
appointing officials to the municipal government; planning the budget
proposal of the government; and visiting the constituent barangays of
the municipality every six months to learn more about their concerns.
• The municipal vice mayor is the second highest official and will
replace the mayor should the latter vacate the position before the
end of his or her term.
• In addition, the vice mayor also serves as the presiding officer of the
legislative body of the municipal government known as the
Sangguniang Bayan. The Sangguniang Bayan is tasked with the
formulation of ordinances in the municipality; the approval of
proposed budgets for government project, the creation of ordinances;
and the imposition of fines in the municipality.
• In addition, the Sangguniang Bayan also evaluated the ordinances
approved by the Sangguniang Barangay and determines if these are in
line with the powers and responsibilities of the barangay government.
Other municipal officials include the municipal treasurer, municipal
budget officer, and municipal engineer or building official, among
others. They are responsible for other tasks related to the
administration of the municipality.
 City Government
• A city is similar to a municipality, as it is also made up of a group of
barangays. However, a city is distinguished by a higher rate of economic
growth and a larger population ad territory.
• inguished by a higher rate of economic growth and a larger population ad
territory. The following are the characteristics that define a city: (1) an
average annual income of 20,000,000 for at least two years; (2) a territory
with adjacent lands of at least 100 square kilometers; and (3) a population of
at least 150,000. A municipality that develops and eventually attains these
characteristics may be reclassified as a city by the national government.
• A city may be categorized as a Component City (CC), an Independent
Component City (ICC), or as Highly Urbanized City (HUC). A component
city is considered part of a province and elects provincial officials.
• Examples of component cities are Legazpi City and Isabela City. On the
other hand, an independent component city is one that is highly
developed. Therefore, it is considered administratively independent form
the province and does not elect provincial officials. Naga City and Ormoc
City are examples of independent component cites.
• A highly urbanized city is similar to an independent city but has a bigger
population (at least 200,00) and income (50,000,000 for a year).
Examples of highly urbanized cities include most cities in Metro Manila
(except for the Municipality of Pateros), Bacolod City, Cebu City, Davao
City, and Cagayan de Oro City.
• The head of the city government is the City Mayor who performs the same
functions as that of the Municipal Mayor. However, the City Mayor does not
prepare the budget for projects of the city government; instead, the heads
of its different departments individually provide their proposed budgets.
• The Vice Mayor serves as the second highest official in the city government,
and also presides over the legislative body of the city, the Sangguniang
Panlungsod is composed of councilors, and includes representatives from
the youth and other sectors of society. The city government also has other
appointive officials who perform tasks which help in ensuring effective
governance.
 Provincial Government
• A province is a local government unit that is comprised of municipalities
and cities. The law prescribes the following characteristics of a province: (1)
it has an average annual income of 20,000,000; (2) it has a territory with
adjacent lands of at least 2,000 square kilometers; and (3) it has a
population of at least 250,000.
• The chief executive of the province is the governor and is assisted by the
vice governor. The governor monitors the administration of component
cities and municipalities in the province in the coordination with the local
government officials, ensures the implementation of laws and ordinances,
and create provisions for public service.
• The governor also directs the formulation of provincial development
plans and implements them. The vice governor is the presiding officer
of the provincial legislative body of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The other officials in the provincial government include the provincial
treasurer, health officer, and the planning and development
coordinator, among others. They assist the governor in administering
the province and implementing policies and development programs.
Regionalization
• The country is divided into administration units called regions, which
are composed of provinces that share common territory and whose
people have common cultural and historical ties.
• Regionalization is intended to promote greater growth and
development throughout the country by identifying significant
concerns and problems within each region and formulating
development plans that address them. It is also related to
decentralization since regions are given greater administration
freedom, with some regions being granted autonomy from the
national government.
• Regions do not have a separate local government unit, but rather
have regional development councils which oversee economic
planning and the implementation of development programs, in
coordination with the local development councils of provinces, cities,
and municipalities, and the National Economic Development Agency,
 Regional Autonomy
• Certain regions are granted autonomy by the national government and are
given authority to wield grater and wider powers. These autonomous
regions are entitled to a certain degree of political integrity and develop
policies and projects which address their distinct needs and conform to the
particular character or culture of the region.
• As such, autonomous regions are entitled to exercise certain governmental
powers, such as (1) organizing their own administrative bodies; (2) managing
their funds, ancestral domain, ad natural resources; and (3) developing their
tourism, educational policies, and other mechanisms and programs for the
preservation of their cultural heritage.
• Regional autonomy, however, does not correspond to total
independence from the state, and autonomies regions are still under
the authority of the Philippine national government. The Constitution
makes it clear that the projects and policies developed by
autonomous regions must not clash with the interests and political
unity of the Philippines as a whole.
• Furthermore, hey are also prohibited from creating policies and
programs concerning national security, citizenship, currencies, and
the electoral process.
• According to the Constitution, a certain region would be granted
autonomy if its provinces are found to share the following
characteristics: “…[a] common and distinctive historical and cultural
heritage, economic and social structures, and other relevant
characteristics within the framework of this Constitution and the
national sovereignty as well as territorial integrity of the Republic of
the Philippines.” (Article X, Section 15, 1987 Constitution)
• The constitution recognizes two areas which meet these
requirements: the regions of Cordillera and Muslim Mindanao.
Historically, these regions were not fully conquered or influenced by
Spanish colonialism. As such, their people continue to exhibit an
ethnolinguistic, cultural, and religious identity unique from the rest of
the country.
STATE-SOCIETY

INTERACTION
• Philippines – Political Parties

Political Parties play important roles in modern democracies. Ideally,

they aggregate interest demands and educate the polity on the vital
issues of the day.

They serve as vehicles for stability and good governance as they help in
resolving societal conflicts.

Patronage-ridden and personality-oriented parties characterize the

country’s politics.
Thus, then leads to a political system dominated by the elite. Some
scholars blame this on the institutional design transported by the
Americans at the turn of the 19th century that privileges the landed and
educated. Consequently, political parties have often been used by the
elite to further their interests and build big one-party coalitions even
after the Marcos leadership.

Political parties grew in profusion after the Marcos martial law regime
(1972-81) was ended. There were 105 political parties registered in
1988. As in the pre-Marcos era, most legal political parties were
coalitions, built around prominent individuals, which focused entirely
on winning elections, not on what to do with the power achieved.
There was little distinguish one party from another ideologically, which
was why many Filipinos regarded the political system as irrelevant.

Party organizations are relatively weak in the Philippines and are

overshadowed by the influence of personalities. On the surface, party
politics are alive and well in the Philippines. There are over 100 political
parties registered with the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) and
literally hundreds of unregistered parties mostly very small operating in
the country. These parties represent views across the political
spectrum. That said, given the entire mosaic of Philippine politics,
parties basically serve as bit players compared to the role that
personalities play.
In fact, parties primarily service the needs of political personalities,
who have gained influence usually due to their family links.

During periods of national campaigns, the larger political parties

sometimes gain strength due to their association with powerful
personalities who can give patronage in exchange for votes and
support.

Party influence tends to recede dramatically, however, after the

election takes place, when the money dries up and attention totally
focuses on the personality in power.
Civil Society
and Social
Movements
CIVIL SOCIETY
“the wide array of non-
governmental and not-for-profit
organizations that have a presence
in public life, expressing the
interests and values of their
members or others, based on
ethical, cultural, political, scientific,
religious or philanthropic
considerations.
NGO in the Philippines
• NGO stands for non-governmental
organization. While there is no
universally agreed-upon definition of
an NGO, typically it is a voluntary
group or institution with a social
mission, which operates independently
from the government. NGOs or similar
organizations exist in all parts of the
world.
NGO in the Philippines
• According to the Asian Development
Bank (2007), civil society organizations
in the Philippines are seen as among
the most vibrant and advanced in the
world. The country has the largest
number of NGOs per capita in Asia,
and several key international NGOs
and networks are based in the
Philippines and are headed by Filipinos.
Three types of important
CSO's
• People's Organization
• Development NGO's
• Cooperatives
CSOs in the Philippines are involved in a
broad range of activities, including:
• Education, training, and human
resource development
• Community development
• Enterprise development and
employment generation
• Health and nutrition
• Law, advocacy, and politics
• Sustainable development
The legal framework for civil society in the Philippines is provided
in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, including, but not limited to:

Article II, Section 23: “The State shall encourage non-

governmental, community- based, or sector organizations that
promote the welfare of the nation.”

Article XIII, Section 15: “The State shall respect the role of
independent people’s organizations to enable the people to
pursue and protect, within the democratic framework, their
legitimate and collective interests and aspirations through
peaceful and lawful means.

Article XIII, Section 16: “The right of the people and their
organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all
levels of social, political and economic decision-making shall not
be abridged. The State shall, by law, facilitate the establishment
of adequate consultation mechanisms.”
• Non-Governmental Aid
Organization(NGO's) provide assistance
to people for a little or no fee. NGO's
fall into the category of civil society
because they are not operated by the
government. non-membership
organization formed for providing
welfare and development services to
the poor private, non-profit, legal,
small, focused usually works with
Non-Government
• IBON Foundation.
Organizations
• Philippine Center for Investigative
Journalism.
• ChildHope Asia.
• Habitat for Humanity Philippines
(HFHP)
• Pro-Life Philippines.
• Philippine Red Cross.
• Haribon Foundation.
• Society for the Conservation of
Philippine Wetlands.
INTEREST
GROUP
INTEREST GROUP
• that, on the basis of one or more shared
attitudes, makes certain claim upon other
groups in society for the establishment,
maintenance, or enhancement of forms of
behavior that are implied by the shared
attitudes.
• organized organizations that engage in
activity relative to governmental decisions.
• organizations that attempt to influence public
policy
INTEREST GROUP:
CHARACTERISTIC
S
INTEREST GROUP:
CHARACTERISTICS
• articulation & aggregation of interests
• formal structure of organization
• acting within the political system
• influencing external power
• representation of political interests
• Lobbying e.g. building public pressure using
media organizing rallies & demonstrations
forming alliances & coalitions
 TYPOLOGY OF
PHILIPPINE NGOs
TYPOLOGY OF PHILIPPINES NGOs
1. DJANGOs (Development, Justice and Advocacy NGOs) -
commonly called development NGOs - perform direct and
indirect support service functions with.
2. FUNDANGOs (Funding agency NGOs or Philanthropic
Foundations - grant-giving organizations linked to grassroots
organizations through providing financial and other forms of
support.
3. MUNGOs (Mutant NGOs) - largely composed of
government-run NGOs that are essentially extensions of the
state or personal interests of state actors
4. COME N’GOs (Fly-by-Night or paper NGOs) - fly-by-night
organizations that package proposals to attract outside
funding and promptly disappear with the funds.
5 areas for NGO participation in
electoral processes
1. advocacy for electoral reforms
2. the raising of political consciousness
3. advancement of the people’s platform or
agenda in elections
4. direct participation through the fielding of and
campaigning for chosen candidates
5. post-election activities
 SOCIAL
MOVEMENTS
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
Social Movements are large informal groupings of
individuals or organizations which focus on specific
political or social issues.
Social movements are attempts to change society
through collective action. They transpire when
large groups of individuals or organizations work for
or against change in specific political or social
contexts. They are non-institutionalized, because
just like CSOs, they occur outside of governmental
institutions. On the other hand, new social
movements (sometimes referred to as “new
politics”)
TYPES OF SOCIAL
MOVEMENTS
TYPES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
• Alternative movements are typically focused on
self-improvement and limited, specific changes
to individual beliefs and behavior. These include
things like Alcoholics Anonymous, Mothers
Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and Planned
Parenthood.
• Redemptive movements (sometimes called
religions movements) are “meaning seeking,”
are focused on a specific segment of the
population, and their goal is to provoke inner
change or spiritual growth in individuals. Some
sects fit in this category.
TYPES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
• Reformative social movements seek to change
something specific about the social structure.
They may seek a more limited change, but are
targeted at the entire population. Environmental
movements, the women’s suffrage movement,
or the more contemporary “Buy Nothing Day”,
which protests the rampant consumerism of
Black Friday, are examples of reformative
movements.
• Revolutionary movements seek to completely
change every aspect of society—their goal is to
change all of society in a dramatic way.
Examples include the Civil Rights Movement or
 ISSUES,
PROSPECTS AND
CHALLENGES
• the strength of CSOs in the Philippines is based on their
number, their extensive networking, the experience and
skills from development work, the dedication and
creativity of leaders and workers, and the flexibility
linked to the small size of most CSOs. The coalition-
building capacity of the CSOs and the formation of links
with the allies in the government contributed to the
success of their advocacies.
• CSOs rely on volunteerism for operation, the more stable
and more capable CSOs are those with paid full-time
staff who can be tapped to deliver programs and
services.
• CSOs must be trained for technical knowledge on
government processes and management of funds so
that they will not miss opportunities that are being
offered by the government and other agencies.
 Group 11

Citizenship in
practice
Citizenship
• Citizenship is an allegiance of person to a state.

• Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons
as its citizens, and the conditions under which that status will be withdrawn.
Recognition by a state as a citizen generally carries with it recognition of
civil, political, and social rights which are not afforded to non-citizens.

• In general, the basic rights normally regarded as arising from citizenship are
the right to a passport, the right to leave and return to the country/ies of
citizenship, the right to live in that country, and to work there.
• Citizenship is a membership in a political community which is personal and more
or less permanent in character where he enjoys the exercise of political rights
above civil privileges provided by law.
• Nationality encompasses all those who render allegiance to the State, be it a
citizen or otherwise
• Aliens is a foreigner who temporarily resides in another country or one who
passes through another border. It receives limited protection over his person and
property.

• Classification of Aliens
• 1.Resident alien. A foreigner residing in the jurisdiction of another State, and to
some extent, his rights and property are protected.

• 2.Non-resident alien. Refers to the citizen of the State as provided in Art IV,
Sec 1.
• Refugees are stateless persons who have fled their home
State for shelter and asylum in another State. They
deliberately withdraw their citizenship and denounce
allegiance to the State and laws.

• Doctrines of citizenships.
• Jus sanguinis-the citizenship of a child is determined by blood
relationship. This is the doctrine the Philippines apply in
determining one’s membership to the political society.
• b.Jus soli/jus loci-the citizenship of a child is determined by
the place of birth
• Modes of acquiring citizenship:
• 1.By birth. This is called the involuntary method. Citizenship is
acquired through blood relationship to the parents.
• Natural Born Citizens (Sec. 2, Art. IV
• 1.Citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform
any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship;
• 2.Those born before January 17, 1973 of Filipino mothers, who
elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority

• 2.By naturalization. This is called the voluntary method of

acquiring citizenship through naturalization process.
• Naturalization, it means the act of formally adopting a
foreigner into the political body of the State, and clothing him
with the rights and privewleges of citizenship.

• Three ways of acquiring naturalization process

• a.Act of court.This suggests that citizenship may be granted to
an applicant pursuant to the judgment of the court. Regional Trial
Ocurt has the jurisdiction
• b.Direct act of Congress. The legislative normally promulgates an
act directly bestowing citizenship on an alien applicant.
• c.Derivative method. Citizenship is conferred on the wife of
naturalized husband, minor children of naturalized person,
and alien woman upon marriage to a national.
• Caram Rule –under the 1935 Constitution, those born in the Philippines of foreign parent,
who before the adoption of the Constitution had been elected to public office in the
Philippines, are considered Filipino citizens
• Doctrine of Indelible Allegiance–an individual may be compelled to retain his original
nationality notwithstanding that he has already renounced or forfeited it under the laws of
the second state whose nationality he has acquired.
• II. LOSS OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP:
• 1.Naturalization in a foreign country;
• 2.Express renunciation of citizenship (expatriation);–The mere application or possession of an
alien certificate of registration does not amount to renunciation (Mercado vs. Manzano, G.R.
No. 135083, May 26, 1999)
• 3.Subscribing to an oath of allegiance to constitution or laws of foreign upon attaining of
21 years of age;−Citizens may not divest citizenship when Philippines is at war.
• 4.Rendering service to or accepting commission in the armed forces of a foreign country;
• 5.Cancellation of certificate of naturalization;6.Having been declared by final judgment a
deserter of Philippines Armed Forces in times of war
• IV. REACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP
• 1.By naturalization;
• 2.By repatriation;
• - RA 8171 is an act providing for the repatriation of:a.Filipino women who
have lost their Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens and
• - b.natural-born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship on account
or political or economic necessity.
• 3.By direct act of Congress.
• RA 9225 also known as the "Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of
2003," approved on August 29, 2003 provides that, upon taking the oath of
allegiance to the Republic:
• a.Natural born citizens of the Philippines who have lost their Philippine
citizenship by reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country are
deemed to have re-acquiredPhilippine citizenship; and
• b.Natural born citizens of the Philippines who,after the effectivity of the said RA
become citizens of a foreign country shall retaintheir Philippine citizenship.
• Derivative Citizenship-The unmarried child, whether legitimate,
illegitimate or adopted, below eighteen (18) years of age, of
those who re-acquire Philippine citizenship upon effectivity of the
said RA shall be deemed citizens of the Philippines.
• V. Dual Allegiance-Refers to the situation where person
simultaneously owes, by some positive act, loyalty to two or more
states.