LOCAL

GOVERNMENT &
DECENTRALIZATIO
N
WEEK 13
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS
(LGU) OF THE PHILIPPINES

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ADD A FOOTER ORGANIZATIONAL
3 STRUCTURE
 RATIONALE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

• The Constitution of the Philippines recognizes the importance of local

governments. It provides as a policy that "the State shall guarantee and
promote the autonomy of the local government units -- especially the
barangays -- to ensure their fullest development as self-reliant communities.“
• Local governments constitute the foundation of the entire structure of the
government. The acts of the local government units affect the ordinary
citizen more directly than those of the national government. The average
citizen has more and closer contacts with the local governments and their
agencies than with the national or provincial government, and is more
concerned with the local affairs than with those of the national or provincial
in scope.
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 OVER-ALL SUPERVISION OF THE LGUs

The President of the Philippines exercises supervision over the whole

country. But for purposes of administrative control, the Philippines is
divided into units of different sizes -- known as political subdivisions.
These are provinces, municipalities, cities, and barangays. These political
subdivisions enjoy autonomy, especially in local affairs. But 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 agencies of the national government in the
matter of collection of taxes, law enforcement, and other governmental
functions, which may be delegated by the national government to these
local governments.
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1. PROVINCES

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 1. PROVINCES
• The provincial government takes care of the function so 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,
• 2) to enter into contracts, including those incurring obligations, which
are expressly provided by law; and
• 3) to exercise such other rights and incur such other obligations as are
expressly authorized by law.
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 1. PROVINCES
• There are 77 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.
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 1. PROVINCES
• A province elects its executives -- the governor, vice governor, and the members
of the provincial board (vocales). 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.

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 1. PROVINCES
• The election of the governor, vice governor, and members of the provincial
board takes place on the Second Tuesday of November of the election year.
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.
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Rank Province Population  % of Population Notes
— Metro Manila12,877,253 12.75%
1 Cebu 4,632,359 4.59% Includes Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue
2 Cavite 3,678,301 3.64%
3 Bulacan 3,292,071 3.26%
4 Negros Occidental 3,059,136 3.03% Includes Bacolod
5 Laguna 3,035,081 3.01%
6 Pangasinan 2,956,726 2.93%
7 Rizal 2,884,227 2.86%
8 Batangas 2,694,335 2.67%
9 Pampanga 2,609,744 2.58% Includes Angeles
10 Iloilo 2,384,415 2.36% Includes Iloilo City
11 Davao del Sur 2,265,579 2.24% Includes Davao City
12 Nueva Ecija 2,151,461 2.13%
13 Quezon 2,122,830 2.1% Includes Lucena
14 Leyte 1,966,768 1.95% Includes Tacloban
15 Camarines Sur 1,952,544 1.93%
16 Zamboanga del Sur1,872,473 1.85% Includes Zamboanga City
17 Isabela 1,593,566 1.58%
18 Misamis Oriental 1,564,459 1.55% Includes Cagayan de Oro
19 South Cotabato 1,509,735 1.5% Includes General Santos
20 Maguindanao1,473,933 1.46% Includes Cotabato City
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Rank Province Population  % of Population Notes
21 Bukidnon 1,415,226 1.4%
22 Cotabato 1,379,747 1.37%
23 Tarlac 1,366,027 1.35%
24 Negros Oriental 1,354,995 1.34%
25 Albay 1,314,826 1.3%
26 Bohol 1,313,560 1.3%
27 Cagayan 1,199,320 1.19%
28 Palawan 1,104,585 1.09% Includes Puerto Princesa
29 Lanao del Sur 1,045,429 1.04%
30 Lanao del Norte 1,019,013 1.01% Includes Iligan
31 Davao del Norte 1,016,332 1.01%
32 Zamboanga del Norte1,011,393 1%
33 Masbate 892,393 0.88%
34 Oriental Mindoro 844,059 0.84%
35 Sulu 824,731 0.82%
36 Zambales 828,888 0.82% Includes Olongapo
37 Sultan Kudarat 812,095 0.8%
38 Sorsogon 792,949 0.79%
39 Benguet 791,590 0.78% Includes Baguio
40 La Union 786,653 0.78%
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Rank Province Population  % of Population Notes

41 Samar 780,481 0.77%

42 Capiz 761,384 0.75%
43 Bataan 760,650 0.75%
44 Davao de Oro736,107 0.73%
45 Agusan del Sur 700,653 0.69%
46 Agusan del Norte 691,566 0.68% Includes Butuan
47 Ilocos Sur 689,668 0.68%
48 Zamboanga Sibugay633,129 0.63%
49 Northern Samar 632,679 0.63%
50 Misamis Occidental602,126 0.6%
51 Ilocos Norte 593,081 0.59%
52 Surigao del Sur 592,250 0.59%
53 Camarines Norte 583,313 0.58%
54 Antique 582,012 0.58%
55 Aklan 574,823 0.57%
56 Davao Oriental 558,958 0.55%
57 Sarangani 544,261 0.54%
58 Occidental Mindoro487,414 0.48%
59 Surigao del Norte 485,088 0.48%
60 Eastern Samar 467,160 0.46%
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Rank Province Population % of Population Notes
61 Basilan 459,367 0.45% Including Isabela City
62 Nueva Vizcaya 452,287 0.45%
63 Southern Leyte 421,750 0.42%
64 Tawi-Tawi 390,715 0.39%
65 Davao Occidental 316,342 0.31%
66 Romblon 292,781 0.29%
67 Catanduanes 260,964 0.26%
68 Abra 241,160 0.24%
69 Marinduque 234,521 0.23%
70 Aurora 214,336 0.21%
71 Kalinga 212,680 0.21%
72 Ifugao 202,802 0.2%
73 Quirino 188,991 0.19%
74 Guimaras 174,613 0.17%
75 Biliran 171,612 0.17%
76 Mountain Province 154,590 0.15%
77 Dinagat Islands 127,152 0.13%
78 Apayao 119,184 0.12%
79 Siquijor 95,984 0.1%
80 Camiguin 88,478 0.09%
81 Batanes 17,246 0.02%
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II. MUNICIPALITIES

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 MUNICIPALITY
• A municipality is a local government unit (LGU) in the
Philippines. A municipality is called town in its archaic term: a
municipality has the function of a town since its inception. It is
distinct from city, which is a different category of local
government unit. Provinces of the Philippines are divided into
cities and municipalities, which in turn, are divided into
barangays (formerly barrios) – villages. As of 7 September 2019,
there are 1,488 municipalities across the country.

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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.
Functions of the Mayor:
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
5) to recommend measures to the municipal council aimed at
the improvement of the social and economic conditions of
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The Municipal Council:
The municipal councils are the lawmaking body of the town
and is composed of the mayor -- who is the chairman of the
council -- vice mayor, and the councilors.

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Functions of the Municipal Council:
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
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adequate municipal jail.
III. CITIES

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 Chartered City
• 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.
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 Chartered City
• The city elective officials are the mayor, vice mayor, and
the members of the city council. 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.
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 Functions of the City Council
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 relief in times of emergency.
NOTE: There are 67 chartered cities in the Philippines.
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IV. BARANGAYS

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 The Barangay Council
• 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.

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 Functions of the Barangay Captain
• 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 sings all contacts in which the barangay is a party.

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 Nature of the Barangays
• 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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 DECENTRALIZATIO
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Definition of Decentralization
• Decentralization is defined as the transfer of power
and authority from central institution to lower or local
levels of a government system. According to Raul P.
De Guzman, decentralization generally refers to the
systematic and rational dispersal of power, authority
and responsibility from the center to the periphery,
from top to lower levels, or from national to local
governments.
Definition of Decentralization
• Decentralization refers to the transfer of powers from
central government to local levels in a political-
administrative and territorial hierarchy. This process
allows the participation of the people and the local
government.
• Decentralization hands over political, financial and
administrative authority from central to local governments,
so that the government can facilitate and guarantee better
public services for the people.
 Three Forms of Decentralization
1. Devolution – transfer of power and authority from the national government
to local government units; political and territorial decentralization
2. Deconcentration – transfer of power, authority or responsibility or the
discretion to plan, decide and manage from central to local levels;
administrative and sectoral decentralization
3. Debureaucratization – transfer of some public functions and
responsibilities, which government may perform to private entities or non-
government organizations (NGOs). It involves the harnessing of the private
sector and non-governmental organizations in the delivery of services
through various modalities including contracting out, private-public
partnership and joint ventures.
 DECENTRALIZATION
&
LOCAL GOVERNANCE

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 Three Components of Decentralization:
1. Political Decentralization - focuses among others on improved
planning and monitoring of development measures, formulating
strategies for the active integration of civil society and the economic
sector, and the promotion of information exchange and management.
2. Fiscal Decentralization – focuses on the increase in local
government’s responsibility for expenditures.
3. Institutional Decentralization - focuses among others on the
delivery of basic services from the national government to the local
government units concerned.
 Indicators of Political Decentralization:
1. Accountability – local committees consisting of men and women work in
selected LGUs according to the guidelines of the Local Government Code of
1991 to implement result-oriented & target-relevant decisions and measures.
2. Transparency – selected LGUs and national organizations / departments
publish their annual budgets in media accessible to citizens such as
newspapers, bulletin boards at the town hall and churches; and report semi-
annually on the implementation status of programs in citizen’s assemblies.
3. Responsibility and Participation – The portion of programs and projects
realized by LGUs through active and quantifiable participation, such as job
performance & financial contributions of citizens.
 Impact of Political Decentralization:
Decentralization empowered Local leaders to take greater control over
their region’s destinies.
Local leaders, citizens and other stakeholders are given more freedom
in determining their development paths.
Political Decentralization delegated some powers from the central
authority to the local authorities, who are much familiar with the
cultural, social and economic aspects of their respective regions.
The main objective is for the provinces, cities and municipalities to use
their financial resources more efficiently, generate additional resources
and tap alternative resources.
 Indicators of Fiscal Decentralization:
1. Improved financial management including
qualification of participants in areas of financial
management
2. Strengthening cooperation on different levels
3. Promoting exchange of experiences, formulating
strategies for an improved integration of the business
sector and civil society in social and economic
programs.
Impact of Institutional Decentralization:
Better service delivery is a matter of coordination& collaboration.
Bridging and empowering the public and private sectors of different
regions in the country through forums, seminars, workshops, studies
and researches.
Working within networks is a strategic element in achieving
sustainability, reliability and a broad effect, especially for the forging of
“strategic alliances”.
Exchange of ideas and mutual understanding among local chief
executives, police and military is crucial in achieving sustainable peace
and development