LIPA CITY

LM ELECT 3:
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION WITH PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICES

PHILIPPINE LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

AN OVERVIEW

A Written Report

Submitted by:

Ezekiel T. Mostiero
Genio L. Zabala
Bachelor of Arts in Legal Management IV-A

Atty. Virgilio Macasaet, JR., CPA

Professor

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph

LIPA CITY
I.

Definition of Local Government

a. Political subdivision of the State which is constituted by law and
possessed of substantial control over its own affairs.
b. Is a body politic and corporate one endowed with powers as a political
subdivision of the national government and as a corporate entity
representing the inhabitants of its territory, and an agent of the national
government.

II.

Nature/Background of a Local Government

1987 Philippine Constitution
As the fundamental law, underlines the constitutional mandates for the
creation of political subdivisions of the state: the local government.
Article X (Local Government) underlines the constitutional mandates for the
creation of political subdivisions of the state, the local governments, in an effort to
diffuse the centralized provision of social services to the field or regional offices to
become more accessible and effective, and make more meaningful and genuine the
grant of local autonomy to local government units towards the total development of
the community.
R.A. 7160: Local Government Code of 1991
Article III, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution provides that Congress shall
enact a local government code which shall provide for a more responsive and
accountable local government structure instituted through a system of
decentralization with effective mechanisms of recall, initiative, and referendum,
allocate among the different local government units their powers, responsibilities,
and resources, and provide for the qualifications, election, appointment and removal,
term, salaries, powers and functions and duties of local officials, and all other matters
relating to the organization and operation of the local units.
It is the governing law on local governments. It is considered as the landmark
legislation of the Aquino Administration which establishes the system and powers of
provincial, city, municipal and barangay governments in the Philippines.
It was approved on October 10, 1991 and took effect on January 1, 1992.
This Code applies to all provinces, cities, municipalities, barangays and other
political subdivisions as may be created by law and, to the extent herein provided, to
officials, offices, or agencies of the National Government.

III.

Political Subdivisions

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph

The territorial and political subdivisions of the Republic of the Philippines are the
provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays...
-Article X, Section 1, 1987 Philippine Constitution
The following are the requirements in the creation and conversion of a local
government unit: a) Income b) Population c) Land Area
a. PROVINCE
is comprised of a group of municipalities and component cities. The role of the
province is to coordinate national development process through effective integration
of programs and projects of all its sub-localities, and assume basically area-wide
functions, roles and activities.
The following are the requirements in the creation and conversion of a province:
Income

At least twenty million pesos (P20,000,000.00) for

the last two (2) consecutive years based on 1991
Constant prices

Population
Minimum land area requirement

Atleast 250,000 inhabitants

At least two thousand (2,000) square
kilometers.

b. CITY
is similar to municipality, but is more urbanized and better developed. It is
created and governed by a law, R.A. 7160, others are governed by a special law
known as charter, thus the term: chartered city. A city serves as a general purpose
government for the coordination and delivery of all basic, regular, and direct services
within its jurisdiction.
A city maybe either component or highly urbanized.
COMPONENT CITY
- is part of the province in which it is geographically located and is under its
administrative supervision
HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY
- is independent of the province in which it is geographically located.

The following are the requirements in the creation and conversion of a city:

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph

Income

Atleast Twenty million pesos (P20,000,000.00)

based on 1991 constant price

Population
Minimum land area requirement

Atleast 250,000 inhabitants

At least two thousand (2,000) square
kilometers.

The following are the requirements in the creation and conversion of a highly urbanized city:

Income

Atleast Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) based

on 1991 constant price

Population
Minimum land area requirement

Atleast 200,000 inhabitants

At least two thousand (2,000) square
kilometers.

c. MUNICIPALITY
Consists of a number of barangays, and serves primarily as a general
purpose government for the coordination and delivery of basic, regular, and direct
services within its jurisdiction.
The following are the requirements in the creation and conversion of a municipality:

Income
Population
Minimum land area requirement

Atleast Two million five hundred thousand

pesos (P2,500,000.00) based on 1991
constant price

Atleast 25,000 inhabitants

A contiguous territory of at least fifty (50)
square kilometers.

d. BARANGAY
Is the basic political unit of the government. It serves as the primary planning
and implementing unit of government programs, projects and activities and as a
forum in which the collective views of the people in the community may be
crystallized and considered.
The following are the requirements in the creation and conversion of a barangay:

Population

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph

Atleast 2,000 inhabitants

The table below shows the current number of provinces, cities, municipalities and
barangays by region:

IV.

Characteristics
Local Autonomy
Level of independence granted to the local government in administering their
own political and local affairs for purposes of promoting the interests of the people,
with minimal intervention coming from the central government.
More responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through
the system of decentralization.
Decentralization
Dispersal of authority and responsibility and the allocation of powers and
functions from the center or top level of government to regional bodies or specialpurpose authorities, or from the national to the sub-national levels of the
government. 11
Process of transferring basic powers from the national to the local governments
to allow maximum participation of the citizens in governmental and community
activities. 12
Other Distinct Characteristics:

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph

1. Local Governments are defined as territorial boundaries with political and

administrative jurisdictions;
2. Local Governments are non-sovereign communities with subordinate status,
governments which are below the national government;
3. Local Governments have authority and power to undertake public activities;
4. Local Governments are continuing organizations with population of more or less
numerous;
5. Local Governments are municipal corporations; 3

V.

General Powers and Functions

GOVERNMENTAL POWERS
1. Police Power
- The power of the state to enact laws,
ordinances, or rules designed to
promote the safety, health, peace,
good order and morals of the
community.
2. Power of Eminent Domain
- To take private property for public use
upon payment of a just compensation.
3. Power of Taxation
- To impose and collect revenue for
public purposes.

CORPORATE POWERS
a. To have continuous succession in its
corporate name

b. To sue and be sued

c. To have and use corporate seal
d. To acquire and convey real or
personal property
e. To enter into contracts
f. To exercise such other powers as are
granted to corporations subject to the
limitations provided in the Code and
other laws.

REFERENCES:
Bathan, Eleuterio (2006): Handbook on Local Governance
Lazo, Ricardo (2008): Textbook on the 1987 Philippine Constitution
Local Government Code of 1991
Suarez, Rolando (2006): Textbook on the Philippine Constitution

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph