(Pretest)

This activity will enable you to assess your prior knowledge from the topic that
will be discussed in this lesson.

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer, and write the CAPITAL LETTER of
your answer in the space provided.
___1. It is the lowest level of territorial organization within a state.
A. National Government B. Local Government C. International
___2. Which of the following does not belong to the political subdivision?
A. Provinces B. State C. Municipalities
___3. These political subdivisions are under in what government agency?
A. DILG B. DFA C. PCOO
___4. What is the law making body of the province?
A. Provincial Board B. Provincial Legislative C. Governor
___5. How do you call the head of a Barangay?
A. Governor B. Barangay Captain C. Mayor
___6. Who is the chief executive officer in the town?
A. Governor B. Barangay Captain C. Mayor
___7. In what article in 1987 Philippine Constitution provides the guidelines for LGU?
A. Article X B. Article XI C. Article XII
___8. The lawmaking body of the city is ____________.
A. Board of Members B. Department Heads C. Councils
___9. It is the the smallest units of local government in the Philippines.
A. Region B. Municipalities C. Barangays
___10. How many municipalities does the Philippines has?
A. 1540 B. 1405 C. 1450

MODULE 9
 Learning  Explain the roles and functions of Local
Competency Government Unit (LGU).
HUMSS_PG12-IIa-b-2

What I need to know:

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

 Identify the roles and functions of Local Government Unit;

 Evaluate the performance of a local government unit through its provided
services; and
 Conduct an interview with barangay officials on community programs.

What’s New

Activity 1. KWL Chart Organizer

Directions: Answer first the two columns of the KWL Chart about the Local
Government Unit. After the discussion of the topic, go back to this activity and
complete the table through answering the Third Column.

What I Know What I Want to Know What I Learned

What Is It

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 Local government unit is defined as institutional units with fiscal, legislative and
executive authority extends over the smallest geographical areas distinguished for
administrative and political purposes. It is the lowest level of territorial organization
within a state. Though it is the smallest and basic unit of governance, it constitutes 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 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." Article X Section 3 of 1987 Philippine
Constitution states that “ The 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.”

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.

Roles, Functions, and Organization

PROVINCES

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 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.

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 (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. 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;

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 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 council 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

5
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;

6
 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. 
Source: http://www.ph.net/htdocs/government/phil/loc-gov/index.html

Figure 1: Structure of Local Government (Padilla, 1998)

Photo Source: https://image.slidesharecdn.com/roleoflocalgovernment-110826092012-phpapp02/95/role-

of-local-government-11-728.jpg?cb=1314351710

What’s More

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Activity 2: Summarizing Organizer

Complete the table by filling in the missing essential parts.

Roles, Functions,
Political Subdivision Officials
and Power
Provinces

Municipalities

Cities

Barangays

Activity 3: What Have I Learned So Far?

Directions: Write a reflection learned from the discussion. In writing your reflection, you
have to complete the sentence below on the lines provided.

I learned that___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

I realized that___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

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If given a chance________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

Local government unit is defined as institutional units with fiscal, legislative

and executive authority extends over the smallest geographical areas distinguished for
administrative and political purposes. 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).

What I Can Do

The Local Government Unit and its people should work hand-
in-hand in order to ensure a healthy and progressive community. With
this, your task is to make an interview to a Barangay Captain in your
locality and ask them about their projects and initiatives to make your
place a safe and develop barangay. Use the template provided in
conducting the interview and answer the following questions.

Name of Barangay Official: __________________________________

Designation: Barangay Captain

Number of Years in Service: _________________________________

Name of Project: ____________________________________________

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Description of Project:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Purpose of the Project:

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Implementation Process and Timeline:

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Expected Outcome:

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Questions:

1. In your own evaluation, does the project can truly help your own
locality? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
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 2. As a Filipino Citizen, how can you help your own Barangay to
ensure the success of the said project?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. If you are the Barangay Captain in your own Barangay, what are
your top three possible projects and why?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Post test

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer, and write the CAPITAL LETTER of
your answer in the space provided.
___1. It is the lowest level of territorial organization within a state.
A. National Government B. Local Government C. International
___2. Which of the following does not belong to the political subdivision?
A. Provinces B. State C. Municipalities
___3. These political subdivisions are under in what government agency?
A. DILG B. DFA C. PCOO
___4. This is the law making body of the province.
A. Provincial Board B. Provincial Legislative C. Governor
___5. How do you call the head of a Barangay?
A. Governor B. 11
Barangay Captain C. Mayor
___6. Who is the chief executive officer in the town?
A. Governor B. Barangay Captain C. Mayor
References:

Jo Balucanag - Bitonio. 2011. “Role of Local Government.” August 26, 2011. Accessed
July 22, 2020. https://www.slideshare.net/jobitonio/role-of-local-government-
9022661.

‌DILG: Department of the Interior and Local Government - Kagawaran Ng Interyor at

Pamahalaang Lokal. n.d. “The Local Government Code of the Philippines”
Www.Dilg.Gov.Ph. Accessed July 22, 2020.
https://www.dilg.gov.ph/PDF_File/reports_resources/dilg-reports-resources-
2016120_fce005a61a.pdf

‌2019. Ph.Net. 2019. http://www.ph.net/htdocs/government/phil/loc-gov/index.html.

‌“The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines | GOVPH.” 2019. Official Gazette of
the Republic of the Philippines. 2019. Accessed July 22, 2020.
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/.

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‌2020. Slidesharecdn.Com. 2020. Accessed July 22, 2020.
https://image.slidesharecdn.com/roleoflocalgovernment-110826092012-
phpapp02/95/role-of-local-government-11-728.jpg?cb=1314351710.

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