The Local Government Units exist because the State wanted a more responsive and more

accountable local government structure through the decentralization that gives powers to the local
government units and also authority, responsibilities, and resources for a closer government to the
citizens. They serve as the representatives of the people within their jurisdiction.

Upon the powers bestowed to the Local Government Units, the two powers that will be focused
on in this discussion are their power to promote the general welfare and the power to provide the basic
services and facilities to the people in its jurisdiction as stated in the Local Government Code of 1991
Book I Chapter II Sections 16 and 17. In these sections, the welfare and facilities are being discussed, and
these Local Government Units (barangay, municipality, cities, and provinces) are responsible for
implementing.

According to the Book I Chapter II Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991, the Local
Government Units are to exercise and imply the powers that are necessary, appropriate, or incidental for
efficient and effective governance that is essential in promoting the general welfare. General welfare is
the act or anything that tends to improve or contribute to the safety and well-being of the general public
(Law Insider, n.d.). In this sense, general welfare discusses the public which is the focus of the
government. The Philippine Government is democratic and caters to the needs of the people in its
jurisdiction. They are also responsible to protect the interests of their people through the proper execution
of their rights and privileges as citizens of the Philippines. Welfare is a government program for those
unemployed and poor people that help with their food, housing, medical costs, and other survival needs. It
is more likely related to social benefits since it is widely used in the basic human rights of a person.
Therefore, local government units are the ones responsible to promote the general welfare of the people
because they are easier to access. One example is the Municipality of Carrascal’s Comprehensive
Development 5-Year-Plan for the year 2016-2022 which showed the Sectorial Development Plans.
According to Ali and Lutero (2022), the Municipality of Carrascal, Surigao del Sur has provided the
citizens under its jurisdiction with various Projects, Programs, and Activities (PPAs) like free medicines,
medical health services, assistance and aid for families and the poor, provision of additional classrooms,
disaster management activities, and also established farm-to-market roads and reconstruction of public
services for a safer community for the people. They also strengthened the Ecological Solid Waste
Management for environmental development.

The next power of local government units that will be discussed is their power to provide
efficient and effective basic services and facilities at barangay, municipality, cities, and provincial levels
as stated and enumerated in the Local Government Code 1991 Book I Chapter II Section 17. As an
effective partner of the national government, it is the responsibility of the local government units to
exercise and discharge the powers and duties that are vested upon them by the national government. They
should also implement the function and responsibilities of the national agencies and offices that are
necessary to make an efficient and effective provision of the basic services and facilities. The discussion
will be focusing on the province as it is the one with the most responsibilities to make and amend. In the
province, most of the services rendered are related to agricultural, industrial and development,
environment protection, health services, social welfare services, provincial facilities and buildings,
infrastructure facilities, low-cost housing, investment supports, tax information and collection, inter-
municipal telecommunications services, and tourism. These are the services to be rendered by the
provincial local government unit. In the Province of Surigao del Sur, the political leaders established
livelihood programs and assistance to fishermen and farmers by giving the fishermen pump boats and rice
grains for plantation for the farmers, strengthened the law about Ecological Solid Waste Management and
Responsible Mining, enhanced hospital services, and free check-ups, assisted the students by giving free
television and rides and sponsorship from the local government units in the province. The province also
reconstructed and constructed infrastructures to heighten the quality of life of Surigaonons following the
protocols established by the national government.

In this sense, all of the powers vested to the Local Government Units from the national
government are solely focused on the public welfare or the general welfare as part of a democratic
country. In becoming an effective partner of the national government, the local government units must be
exercising the powers and their responsibilities for the citizens as it is a decentralized form of government
where every locality is the one to be the government that is near to the people.

References:

Local Government Code of 1991

Ali, K. and Lutero, H. (January 2022). Political Dynasty and Governance: Its Effect on the Development
of Surigao del Sur. [Undergraduate Thesis, Mindanao State University – General Santos City]. Mindanao
State University – General Santos City Political Science Department.

Law Insider (n.d.). General Welfare Definition. https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/general-welfare