SOUTHERN MINDANAO COLLEGES

FAUSTING JAMISOLA STREET, SANTA LUCIA DISTRICT

CITY OF PAGADIAN

GRADUATE SCHOOL

MASTER IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

THE PHILIPPINE ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM

NAZARIO U. GALAMBA, JR. MPA

Professor

RO JEAN P. OLING

Masterand
The Philippine Administrative System and its Implication to Environment
and Natural Resources Management

The administrative system of the Republic of the Philippines is comprised of a central government and
its territorial and political subdivisions, which enjoy local autonomy: the provinces, cities, municipalities and
barangays (smallest administrative unit) and the autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.
The Central Government The Central government, headed by the President of the Republic, with at least 18
Department Secretaries as her alter ego, exercises general supervision over local governments. It should be
noted however, that the central government is not a highly centralized system, but operates on the principle of
deconcentration or transfer of powers from the central/national level to lower offices (regional, provincial)
administratively. The Autonomous Regions The autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras
which are comprised of provinces, cities, municipalities and geographical areas sharing, among other things,
common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage and economic and social structures are provided
legislative powers within their territorial jurisdiction over matters pertaining to, among other things, ancestral
domain and natural resources; regional, urban and rural planning development; and economic, social and
tourism development; The Provincial Government Although under the general supervision of the central
government, the provincial government enjoys a certain level of local autonomy (under the principle of
devolution or transfer of powers from the national government to a political subdivision) and is entitled to an
equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth within its area. There
are also certain environment and natural resources-related functions that have been devolved to the provincial
governments pursuant to national policies and subject to supervision, control and review of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as follows: enforcement of forestry laws limited to
communitybased forestry projects, pollution control law, small scale mining law and other laws on the
protection of environment; and mini-hydro electric projects for local purposes. The issuance of permits to
extract sand, gravel and quarry resources has also been given exclusively to the provincial governor, pursuant to
the ordinance of sangguniang panlalawigan (or provincial board, the provincial legislative body). The
Municipal Government The Municipal government is also under the general supervision of the provincial
government. However, it also enjoys a certain level of local autonomy (also under the principle of devolution)
and is entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth
within its area (the share of local government units are divided among the provinces/highly urbanized cities,
municipalities/component cities and barangays). As in the case of the Provincial government, the municipal
government is also vested with certain environment and natural resources related functions, pursuant to national
policies and subject to supervision, control and review of the DENR, as follows: implementation of community-
based forestry projects which include integrated social forestry programs and similar projects; management and
control of communal forests with an area not exceeding fifty square kilometres; establishment of tree parks,
greenbelts, and similar forest development projects; solid waste disposal system or environmental management
system; and services or facilities related to general hygiene and sanitation. The City Government The Highly
Urbanized City is only subject to general supervision of the national government (as opposed to the component
city that is still under the general supervision of the province), but also enjoys a certain level of local autonomy
(also under the principle of devolution) and is likewise entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the
utilization and development of the national wealth within its area. As in the case of provincial and municipal
governments, the highly urbanized city is vested with certain environment and natural resources functions,
pursuant to national policies and subject to supervision, control and review of the DENR, as follows:
enforcement of forestry laws limited to community-based forestry projects, pollution control law, small scale
mining law and other laws on the protection of environment; and mini-hydro electric projects for local
purposes; implementation of communitybased forestry projects which include integrated social forestry
programs and similar projects; management and control of communal forests with an area not exceeding fifty
square kilometres; establishment of tree parks, greenbelts, and similar forest development projects; solid waste
disposal system or environmental management system; and services or facilities related to general hygiene and
sanitation. The Barangay The barangay is under the general supervision of cities/ municipalities but also enjoys
a certain level of local autonomy (also under the principle of devolution) and is likewise entitled to an equitable
share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth within its area. It is likewise
vested with certain environment and natural resources functions, pursuant to national policies and subject to
supervision, control and review of the DENR, as follows: services and facilities related to general hygiene and
sanitation, beautification, and solid waste collection. (Contributed by Mr Noel Eusebio Oyardo Padilla,
Development Management Officer V, Planning and Policy Service, Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, Government of the Philippines)
The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government wherein power is equally divided among
its three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

One basic corollary in a presidential system of government is the principle of separation of powers wherein
legislation belongs to Congress, execution to the Executive, and settlement of legal controversies to the
Judiciary.

 The Legislative branch is authorized to make laws, alter, and repeal them through the power vested in
the Philippine Congress. This institution is divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives.
 The Executive branch carries out laws. It is composed of the President and the Vice President who are
elected by direct popular vote and serve a term of six years. The Constitution grants the President
authority to appoint his Cabinet. These departments form a large portion of the country’s bureaucracy.
 The Judicial branch evaluates laws. It holds the power to settle controversies involving rights that are
legally demandable and enforceable. This branch determines whether or not there has been a grave
abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part and instrumentality of the
government. It is made up of a Supreme Court and lower courts.
Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches as follows:

 The President can veto laws passed by Congress.

 Congress confirms or rejects the President's appointments and can remove the President from office in
exceptional circumstances.
 The Justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn unconstitutional laws, are appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate.

The Philippine government seeks to act in the best interests of its citizens through this system of checks and
balances.

The Constitution expressly grants the Supreme Court the power of Judicial Review as the power to declare a
treaty, international or executive agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance
or regulation unconstitutional. But let’s focus on the executive department’s structure and its function.

PHILIPPINES EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the President, Vice President, the Cabinet,
executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.

Key roles of the executive branch include:

 President – The President leads the country. He/she is the head of state, leader of the national
government, and Commander in Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines. The President serves a six-
year term and cannot be re-elected.
 Vice President – The Vice President supports the President. If the President is unable to serve, the Vice
President becomes President. He/she serves a six-year term.
 The Cabinet – Cabinet members serve as advisors to the President. They include the Vice President and
the heads of executive departments. Cabinet members are nominated by the President and must be
confirmed by the Commission of Appointments.
 Below is a chart of the executive branch.