Marvin A.

Gamboa
MDA-LGA: DAF 225

MODULE 1, LESSON 4

I. Learning Activity

Functions Centralizatio Decentralizatio

n n
1. Foreign Relations 
2. Health and hospital services 
3. Education( school building 
program )
4. Social Justice 
5. Finance 
6. Public works( funded by local 
funds )
7. Transportation 
8. Communication 
9. Postal service 
10. Banking Service 
11. Market operation 
12. Environmental standards 
13. Social Services ( social welfare 
services )
14. Education 
15. Classification of Agricultural 
lands

II. Summative Test

1. Define local government incorporating all the important elements.

 Local government is a political subdivision of the State instituted by law

by a set of rule-making and law enforcement activities binding upon a
set of collectivity, which has substantial control over local affairs
including the power to impose taxes , with a defined area, population,
continuing organization, the authority to undertake and power to carry
out public activities that is governed by an elected or appointed body.

2. How was the Philippines locally governed in different periods of our

history.

 Pre-Spanish Period
o During the year 1521, socio-economic units called barangays
were found lead by a Datu (chief) as executive and judge with
his council of elders served as legislative.
o Muslim communities are headed by Sultan assisted by a core of
religious leaders and educators.

 Spanish Period
o Spaniards established a centralized form of government with its
seat in Manila, wherein major local government units, namely,
the province or provincias headed by alcalde mayor appointed
 by the Spansih Governor, city and municipality or pueblo
headed by an alcalde, have their beginnings established.
o The Spanish colonizers transformed the barangays into barrios
headed by a cabeza de barangay.

 The Revolutionary Period

o Democratic system in which majority of the inhabitants would
elect for the chief of the town, jefe de pueblo and the chief of
the province, jefe de provincial will be elected by the chief of the
town.
o A constitution was framed in 1953 which served as basis of
governance.

 The American Period

o Democratic system was established renaming the local
government units into barrio, city, municipality and province
wherein laws and rules implementation is highly centralized.

 The Commonwealth Period

o Highly centralized government patterned during the American
period with a strong leadership of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon.

 The Third Republic

o Decentralization became a trend in which a number of
legislative enactment on local governments was passed.

 Local Government at Present

o Drafting of the 1987 Constitution that lead to the creation of
special governments for the designated Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Likewise the Local Government Code which now governs the
present administration systems of local authorities.

3. Is it important to have local government? Give your reasons.

Yes. It is important to have local government because it provides an

organized system that gives a better understanding of the relationship
between a desired project objectives and the resources available to
implement them on a given area or territory and population. It is also a
means of dividing functions, powers and services in which people identify
themselves individually and with each other. With the local government,
simplification and proper distribution of functions and services of all
agencies is served to the people under its jurisdiction.

4. Differentiate the following terms or concepts: centralization,

decentralization, deconcentration, devolution and local autonomy.

Centralization – is defined as the concentration of authority, in which

there is a hierarchy of formal authority for making all the important decision
by the central government.

Decentralization – is the dissemination of responsibility, power, functions

from the top level of government to the lower level of government or from
the national to the subnational level of government.
Deconcentration – is the sharing of responsibility and delegating of
authority by the national government or central government agency to its
field offices to perform certain governmental functions and services. It can
be effected without the necessity of legislation, but just through the
promulgation of an executive order by the department secretary
concerned.

Devolution – assigning of power and authority from the top level

government to local government. Granting of power and authority to the
Provincial, City and municipal governments.

Local Autonomy – it is the result of decentralization wherein local

government units enjoy limited, self-government that exercise initiative,
leadership and discretion in taking their discussion and actions as defined
by law.