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.

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.

PROVINCES

The provincial government takes care of the functionso which affect the people of a
certain province. The province is the largest political unit in the Philippines. It possess
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 auhtorized by law.

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. A province elects its executives -- the governor, vice governor, and the
members of the provincial board (vocals). There are three vocals 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. However, under the New Local
Government Code, they are the administrative control of the provincial governor. 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.

The provincial board is the law making body of the province, with the provincial
governor serving as the presiding officer. Some of its most important functions are as
follows: a) it passes laws for the welfare of the municipalities and cities within its
jurisdiction; b) it prepares and approves the provincial budget; c) it appropriates money
for provincial purposes; d) it exercises the power of eminent domain; and e) it provides
for the maintenance of equipment and buildings for provincial purposes. The board
holds a regular weekly meeting upon a day fixed by it. Special meetings, however, may
be called by the provincial governor on any day.

MUNICIPALITIES

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. 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 the people. The municipal
councils is the lawmaking body of the town and is composed of the mayor -- who is the
chairman of the council -- vice mayor, and the councilors. The number of councilors for
each municipality depends upon the class to which the municipality belongs. Each
councilor is in-charge of a village or barangay. Some of the more important mandatory
powers of the municipal council are the following: 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 adequate municipal jail.
CITIES

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. The city elective officials are the mayor,
vice mayor, and the members of the board of councilors. 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. Among its important functions are
as follows: 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 relied in times of emergency. There are 67
chartered cities in the Philippines.

BARANGAYS

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. 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. 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.
 Level of
Legislatur
governmen Composition
e
t

total of 24 members:
Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao (excluding Cotabato
Regional City), Sulu: 6 each, 3 elected from each assembly
Autonomous
Legislative district
region
Assembly Basilan (except Isabela City), Tawi-Tawi: 3 each,
elected at-large
Sectoral representatives
varies, as of 2016:
Cavite and Cebu: 14 SP members, 2 elected from
each district
Batangas, Negros Occidental and Pangasinan 12
SP members, 2 elected from each district
All other provinces of the first and second income
classes: 10 SP members, with seat distribution
among districts varying.
Provinces of the third and fourth income classes: 8
Sangguniang SP members, with seat distribution among districts
Province Panlalawigan
[ varying.
Provinces of the fifth and sixth income classes: 6
SP members, 3 per district
President of the provincial chapter of the Liga ng mga
Barangay
President of the provincial chapter of the League of
Councilors
President of the provincial federation of
the Sangguniang Kabataan
Sectoral representatives
varies, as of 2016:
Manila and Quezon City: 36 councilors, 6 elected
from each district
Davao City: 24 councilors, 8 elected from each
district
Sangguniang
City
Panlungsod Antipolo, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu
City, Makati, Muntinlupa, Paraaque, Taguig, Zam
boanga City: 16 councilors, 8 elected from each
district
Bacoor, Calbayog, San Jose del Monte, and all
other cities in Metro Manila: 12 councilors, 6
 elected from each district
Samal, Sorsogon City: 12 councilors, 4 elected
from each district
Bacolod, Baguio, Batangas
City, Bian, Dasmarias, General
Santos, Iligan, Iloilo City, Imus, Lapu-
Lapu, Lipa, San Fernando (La Union), Tuguegarao:
12 councilors, elected at-large
All other cities: 10 councilors, elected at-large
President of the city chapter of the Liga ng mga
Barangay
President of the city federation of the Sangguniang
Kabataan
Sectoral representatives
varies, as of 2016:
Pateros, Metro Manila: 12 councilors, 6 elected
from each district
All other municipalities: 8 councilors, elected at-
Sangguniang large
Municipality
Bayan President of the municipal chapter of the Liga ng mga
Barangay
President of the municipal federation of the
Sangguniang Kabataan
Sectoral representatives
Sangguniang 7 members elected at-large
Barangay Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson
Barangay
Sangguniang
7 members elected at-large
Kabataan
Departments of the Philippine Government
.

Department Acronym Office Incumbent

Secretary of Agrarian
Reform Rosalina
DAR
(Kalihim ng Bistoyong
(KRP)
Department of Agrarian Reform Repormang (OIC)
(Kagawaran ng Repormang Pansakahan)
Pansakahan)

Secretary of Agriculture
DA Emmanuel
(Kalihim ng
(KPS) Piol
Pagsasaka)
Department of Agriculture
(Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka)

Secretary of Budget
and Management
DBM Benjamin
(Kalihim ng
(KPP) Diokno
Department of Budget and Pagbabadyet at
Management Pamamahala)
(Kagawaran ng Pagbabadyet at
Pamamahala)

Secretary of Education
DepEd Leonor
(Kalihim ng
(KEd) Briones
Edukasyon)
Department of Education
(Kagawaran ng Edukasyon)

DOE Secretary of Energy

Alfonso Cusi
(KEn) (Kalihim ng Enerhiya)

Department of Energy
 (Kagawaran ng Enerhiya)

Secretary of
Environment and
DENR Natural Resources
Roy Cimatu
Department of Environment
(KKLK) (Kalihim ng Kapaligiran
and Natural Resources at Likas na
(Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas Kayamanan)
na Kayamanan)

Secretary of Finance
DOF Carlos
(Kalihim ng
(KNP) Dominguez III
Pananalapi)
Department of Finance
(Kagawaran ng Pananalapi)

Secretary of Foreign
DFA Affairs Alan Peter
(KUP) (Kalihim ng Ugnayang Cayetano
Department of Foreign Affairs Panlabas)
(Kagawaran ng Ugnayang Panlabas)

DOH Secretary of Health Paulyn Jean

(KNKL) (Kalihim ng Kalusugan) Russel-Ubial
Department of Health
(Kagawaran ng Kalusugan)

Secretary of
Information and
Communications
DICT Technology Rodolfo
(KTIK) Kalihim ng Salalima
Department of Information and (Teknolohiyang Pang-
Communications Technology
(Kagawaran ng Teknolohiyang Pang- Impormasyon at
Impormasyon at Komunikasyon) Komunikasyon)
 Secretary of the Interior
DILG and Local Government Catalino
Department of the Interior and
(KIPL) (Kalihim ng Interyor at Cuy(OIC)
Local Government Pamahalaang Lokal)
(Kagawaran ng Interyor at
Pamahalaang Lokal)

Secretary of Justice
DOJ Vitaliano
(Kalihim ng
(KNKT) Aguirre II
Katarungan)
Department of Justice
(Kagawaran ng Katarungan)

Secretary of Labor and

DOLE Employment Silvestre
Department of Labor and (KNPE) (Kalihim ng Paggawa Bello III
Employment at Empleyo)
(Kagawaran ng Paggawa at
Empleyo)

Secretary of National
Defense
DND Delfin
(Kalihim ng
(KTP) Lorenzana
Department of National Tanggulang
Defense Pambansa)
(Kagawaran ng Tanggulang
Pambansa)

Department of Public Works
and Highways
(Kagawaran ng Pagawaing Bayan at
Lansangan)
Secretary of Public
DPWH Works and Highways
Mark Villar
(KPBL) (Kalihim ng Pagawaing
Bayan at Lansangan)
 Secretary of Science
DOST and Technology Fortunato de
(KNAT) (Kalihim ng Agham at la Pea
Department of Science and
Technology Teknolohiya)
(Kagawaran ng Agham at
Teknolohiya)

Secretary of Social
Welfare and
Development
DSWD Emmanuel
(Kalihim ng
Department of Social Welfare (KKPP) Leyco (OIC)
Kagalingang
and Development
(Kagawaran ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at
Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad) Pagpapaunlad)

DOT Secretary of Tourism Wanda

(KNT) (Kalihim ng Turismo) Corazon Teo
Department of Tourism
(Kagawaran ng Turismo)

Secretary of Trade and

DTI Industry Ramn
Department of Trade and (KKI) (Kalihim ng Kalakalan Lpez
Industry at Industriya)
(Kagawaran ng Kalakalan at
Industriya)

Secretary of
DOTr Transportation Arthur
(KNTr) (Kalihim ng Tugade
Department of Transportation Transportasyon)
(Kagawaran ng Transportasyon)
Officials with Cabinet
Some officials have cabinet-level rank, but are not Secretaries of Executive Departments,
meaning those people are permitted to attend Cabinet meetings for special purposes. They are
the following:

Department Acronym Office Incumbent

Vice President H.E. Maria

OVP (TPP) (Pangalawang Leonor G.
Office of the Vice Pangulo) Robredo
President
(Tanggapan ng Pangalawang
Pangulo)

Executive Secretary
Salvador
ES (TKT) (Kalihim
Medialdea
Executive Secretary Tagapagpaganap)
(Tanggapan ng Kalihim
Tagapagpaganap)

OCS Cabinet Secretary Sec. Leoncio

Office of the Cabinet
(TKG) (Kalihim ng Gabinete) Evasco Jr.
Secretary
(Tanggapan ng Kalihim ng
Gabinete)

Presidential
Spokesperson Usec. Ernesto
OPS (TTP)
Office of the Presidential
(Tagapagsalita ng Abella
Spokesperson Pangulo)
(Tanggapan ng Tagapagsalita
ng Pangulo)
 Secretary of the
Presidential
Communications
Operations Office
PCOO
Presidential (Kalihim ng Martin Andanar
(PTOK)
Communications Pampanguluhang
Operations Office Tanggapan ng
(Pampanguluhang Tanggapan
ng Operasyong Operasyong
Pangkomunikasyon) Pangkomunikasyon)

Director-General of
the National Economic
and Development
Authority
NEDA Sec. Ernesto
(Direktor-Heneral ng
National Economic and (PPKP) Pernia
Development Authority
Pambansang
(Pambansang Pangasiwaan Pangasiwaan sa
sa Kabuhayan at Kabuhayan at
Pagpapaunlad)
Pagpapaunlad)

Chairman of the
Housing and Urban
Development
Coordinating Council
Housing and Urban HUDCC (Tagapangulo ng Sec. Leoncio
Development (SPPPP) Sangguniang Pang- Evasco Jr.
Coordinating Council
(Sangguniang Pang- koordinasyon sa
koordinasyon sa Pabahay at Pabahay at
Pambayang Pagpapaunlad)
Pambayang
Pagpapaunlad)

National Security
Adviser
Sec. Hermogene
NSC (PSP) (Tagapayo sa
s Esperon
National Security Council Pambansang
(Pambansang Sangguniang Seguridad)
Panseguridad)
 Chairperson of the
Commission on
Higher Education
CHED Patricia
(Tagapangulo ng
(KLME) Licuanan
Commission on Higher Komisyon sa Lalong
(Education Mataas na
Komisyon sa Lalong Mataas
na Edukasyon) Edukasyon)

Chief Presidential
OCPLC Legal Counsel Sec. Salvador
Office of the Chief
Presidential Legal
(TPTPB) (Punong Tagapayo ng Panelo
Counsel Pangulo sa Batas)
(Tanggapan ng Punong
Tagapayo ng Pangulo sa
Batas)

Head of the
Presidential
Management Staff

(Pinuno ng
Pampanguluhang
Pamamahala)

PMS Sec. Christopher

Presidential Management (PNPP) Go
Staff
(Pamunuan ng
Pampanguluhang
Pamamahalan)

Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority
(Pangasiwaan sa
Pagpapaunlad ng Kalakhang
Maynila)
Chairman of the
Metropolitan Manila
Development
MMDA Authority
Sec. Danilo Lim
(PPKM) (Tagapangulo ng
Pangasiwaan sa
Pagpapaunlad ng
Kalakhang Maynila)

Secretary of the
National Commission
on Muslim Filipinos
NCMF(PKL Sec. Yasmin
(Tagapangulo ng
K) Busran-Lao
National Commission on Pambansang
Muslim Filipinos Komisyon sa mga
(Pambansang Komisyon sa
mga Pilipinong Muslim) Pilipinong Muslim)

Chairperson of the
Commission on
Filipinos Overseas Usec. Maria
CFO(KPID) (Tagapangulo ng Regina G.
Commission on Filipinos
Overseas Komisyon para sa Galias (OIC)
(Komisyon para sa mga mga Filipino sa
Filipino sa Ibayong Dagat)
Ibayong Dagat)

Chairman of the
Mindanao
Development
Authority
(Tagapangulo ng
MinDA Pangasiwaan sa Sec. Datu Abul
Mindanao Development (PPM) Pagpapaunlad ng Khayr Alonto
Authority Mindanao)
(Pangasiwaan sa
Pagpapaunlad ng Mindanao)
 Lead Convenor of the
National Anti-Poverty
Commission
Punong
NAPC (Tagapagtanghal ng Sec. Liza Maza
National Anti-Poverty
(PKLK) Pambansang
Commission Komisyon Laban sa
(Pambansang Komisyon Kahirapan)
Laban sa Kahirapan)

Presidential Adviser
on the Peace Process
OPAPP (Tagapayo ng Sec. Jesus
Office of the Presidential (TTPPP) Pangulo para sa Dureza
Adviser on the Peace
Process Prosesong
(Tanggapan ng Tagapayo ng Pangkapayapaan)
Pangulo para sa Prosesong
Pangkapayapaan)

Head of the
Presidential
Legislative Liaison
Office
PLLO Sec. Adelino B.
(Pinuno ng
Presidential Legislative (TTPL) Sitoy
Liaison Office
Tanggapan ng
(Tanggapan ng Tagapamagitan ng
Tagapamagitan ng Pangulo sa Pangulo sa
Lehislatura)
Lehislatura)

Political Adviser Sec. Francis

OPA (TTP)
(Tagapayong Pulitikal) Tolentino
Office of the Political
Adviser
Tanggapan ng Tagapayong
Pulitikal