LOCAL

GOVERNMENT
UNITS (LGU)
LGU
+ The local government refers to political, administrative divisions of a
state that is under the jurisdiction of the national, regional, and
provincial government, this is within the act of physically reaching to
the citizens it governs, with officials elected (Nebres, 2007).
LGU
 According to the mandate given by the Constitution, Congress enacted Republic Act No.
7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. The Code is divided into
four books and covers the following:

+ a. Book I- basic principles governing the attributes of local government units and the exercise of
powers; intergovernmental relations as well as relations with people's and non-governmental
organizations; the qualifications and election of elective officials and the process for disciplinary action
and recall; the creation and composition of local school boards, local health boards, local development
councils, and local peace and order councils;
+ b. Book II - local taxation and fiscal matters (which include the imposition of local business taxes as
well as real property taxes);
+ c. Book III - the creation, organization, and powers of local government units and the officials for each
local government unit; and
+ d. Book IV- penal provisions for violation of the Code, provisions for implementation, and transitory
provisions.
+ The Local Government Code of 1991 replaced Batas Pambansa Blg. 337, which is the old local
government code.
Characteristics of Local Government Units
+ A unit of local government has the following characteristics:
1. It must exist as an organized entity. It means that it must have both
organization and certain basic minimum powers such as the ability to
make contracts and own property.
2. It must possess governmental accountability to the public at large
with its official either elected or appointed by elected officials.
3. It must have substantial autonomy, including particularly the right
to raise revenue for its budgetary allocations.
Local Government in the Philippines is divided
into four levels:

+ Autonomous Regions
+ Provinces and cities independent from a province
+ Components cities and municipalities
+ Barangays
 Levels of Local Government Unit

A. Autonomous Regions
+Autonomous regions have more powers than other LGUS.
Currently, the Constitution limits the creation of autonomous
regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.
+An autonomous region is governed by the regional governor;
its Legislature is the regional legislative assembly.
 Levels of Local Government Unit
B. Provinces

+ Outside the lone autonomous region, the provinces are the highest level
LGUs. The provinces are organized into component cities and
municipalities.
+ A province is governed by the governor, and its Legislature is the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
 Levels of Local Government Unit
C. Cities
+ Cities are of somewhat complex matter; most cities are component cities in
which they are a part of a province. Several other cities are highly urbanized
cities and independent component cities. These cities are not politically a
part of any province. Hence city residents are not allowed to run for
provincial offices. Cities are composed of barangays.
+ A city is governed by the mayor, and its Legislature is the Sangguniang
Panlungsod.
 Levels of Local Government Unit
D. Municipalities

+ Municipalities are always a part of a province just like cities; municipalities

are composed of barangays.
+ A municipality is governed by the mayor, and its Legislature is the
Sangguniang Bayan.
 Levels of Local Government Unit
E. Barangays

+ Barangays are the smallest of the independently elected Local Government Units.
Barangays can be further divided into sitios and puroks, but those divisions do not
have leaders elected in formal elections supervised by the national government
+ A barangay executive is the Punong Barangay or barangay captain, and its
Legislature is the Sangguniang Barangay, which is composed of barangay
captain, the Barangay Kagawads (barangay councilors) and the SK
chairman. The SK chairman also leads a separate assembly for youth, the
Sangguniang Kabataan or SK. The center of governance is the barangay hall.
Composition of the executive branch of the LGU:

+ 1. A regional governor for the autonomous region

+ 2. A governor for the provinces
+ 3. A mayor for the cities and municipalities
+ 4. A barangay captain for the barangays
Composition of the Legislative branch of the
LGU:
+ 1. Regional Legislative Assembly for the autonomous region
+ 2. Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial assembly) for the provinces
+ 3. Sangguniang Panlungsod (city assembly) for the cities
+ 4. Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly) for the municipalities
+ 5. Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council)
+ 6. Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.
LGU Official Duties
Section 17 of the Local Government Code stipulated the social services and facilities that local governments should provide:
+ Facilities and research services for agriculture and fishery activities, which include seedling nurseries, demonstration farms, and
irrigation systems
+ Health services, which include access to primary health care, maternal and childcare, and medicines, medical supplies, and
equipment
+ Social welfare services, which include programs and projects for women, children, elderly, and persons with disabilities, as well
as vagrants, beggars, street children, juvenile delinquents, and victims of drug abuse
+ Information services, which include job placement information systems and a public library
+ A solid waste disposal system or environmental management system
+ Municipal/city/provincial buildings, cultural centers, public parks, playgrounds, and sports facilities and equipment
+ Infrastructure facilities such as roads, bridges, school buildings, health clinics, fish ports, water supply systems, seawalls, dikes,
drainage and sewerage, and traffic signals and road signs
+ Public markets, slaughterhouses, and other local enterprises
+ Public cemetery
+ Tourism facilities and other tourist attractions, and
+ Sites for police and fire stations and substations and municipal jail