Government is the name given to the entity exercising that authority.

Authority can most simply define as legitimate power.

Whereas power is the ability to influence the behavior of others, authority is the
right to do so.

Three kinds of authority, based on the different grounds upon obedience can be
established
Traditional authority is rooted in history,
Charismatic authority stems from personality
Legal-authority is grounded in a set of impersonal rules.

Politics is the art of government, the exercise of control within the society through
the making and enforcement of collective decisions.
Governance is about the processes by which public policy decisions are made and
implemented.

Local governance comprises a set of institutions, mechanisms and processes

through which citizens and their groups can articulate their interests and needs,
mediate their differences, and exercise their rights and obligations at the local level
Legs of Governance
Economic governance includes decision-making processes that affect a
country's economic activities and its relationships with other economies. It
clearly has major implications for equity, poverty and quality of life.
Political governance is the process of decision-making to formulate policy.
Administrative governance is the system of policy implementation.
Encompassing all three, good governance defines the processes and
structures that guide political and socio-economic relationships.
KEY ACTORS IN GOVERNANCE
The state is the principal actor of government to facilitate participation and
provide an enabling environment to other elements of the society.
The private/business sector serves as the engine of the society. It is an
important collaborator in the economic development of the community
The Civil Society consists of the complex of citizens and groups outside
government working in the public arena. It is often called as CSOs- civil
society organizations and also sometimes referred to as the Third Sector

ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE

Local: Assessments of local governance provide important information on
issues specific to the local level, such as policies vis-à-vis decentralization,
participation and local accountability. One of the main differences between
a national and local governance assessment is the greater proximity to the
real-world issues.

National: National governance which often deals with systemic policies, the
local level is in a daily and intensive interaction with the citizens. Therefore,
local assessments need to be much more sensitive to the particular needs of
groups of stakeholders and certain segments in the local community

Utmost importance as it is the purpose that decides the scope of the assessment,
the methodology and the indicators to be applied, and not vice versa. Conducting
an assessment with vague objectives fails to provide proper development
outcomes and can be a waste of time and resources.

Four main objectives to undertaking an assessment of governance at the local

level:
 1. Diagnostic: an assessment will be done to identify a problem and its scope
2. Monitoring: an assessment will be done at regular intervals to keep a
check on the success or failure of an initiative, policy or programme
3. Evaluation: an assessment will be done to assess whether an initiative,
policy or programme has achieved its pre-defined results and outcomes
4. Dialogue: an assessment will also serve to engage citizens and
communities in informed discussions about shared goals and priorities.

Decentralization and Local Governance in the Philippines

In unitary systems, the national or the central government is given substantial
control and power over the affairs or directions of the country. Unlike in federal
systems where the local government and central government are supreme in their
own spheres, unitary systems (like the Philippines) let the national government
decide for the country

Local governments are the political subdivisions of a state. They are at the lowest
level of an elected territorial organization within a state, both in federal or unitary
governments

Four major forms of decentralization:

1. Deconcentration – It involves the redistribution of administrative
responsibilities within the central government. An example of this is the
shifting of workload from the central government agency to its own field
staff outside the national capital.
2. Delegation to semi-autonomous or parastatal organizations – It involves
the delegation of decision-making and management authority for specific
functions to bodies that are not under the direct control of the central
 government. Examples of these bodies are public corporations, and regional
planning and area development authorities.
3. Devolution – It involves the process by which the central government
relinquishes certain functions to local government units. It thus seeks to
strengthen or to create independent levels or units of government. It is an
arrangement where there are reciprocal, mutually beneficial, and
coordinated relationships between central and local governments.
4. Transfer of functions from government to nongovernment institutions –
It involves the transfer of planning and administrative powers or functions to
voluntary, private, or nongovernmental institutions.
Decentralization and democratization reinforce each other. Decentralization
enhances local participation and therefore strengthens democracy.
Decentralization can only take place within democratic processes and it requires
for local government systems to have good management and democratic
accountability.

The principles that govern the mandate of locally elected authorities and the
powers and responsibilities of local authorities, based on the principle of
subsidiarity. Subsidiarity is a principle of social organization that holds that social
and political issues should be dealt with at the most immediate or local level that
is consistent with their resolution.

ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

As a body politic the LGU is a political subdivision of the national
government. It is endowed with powers to manage its territorial jurisdiction
for and on behalf of the national government.

As a body corporate the LGU represents its residents, the inhabitants within
its territory. It is likewise endowed with powers and resources necessary for
its efficient and effective governance and to deliver basic services and
 facilities to enable its inhabitants to develop fully into self-reliant
communities.
Enhanced Governmental and Corporate Powers
- Full autonomy in the exercise of proprietary rights and management of
economic enterprises
- Authority to secure domestic or foreign grants without need of national
government approval - Cooperative undertakings among LGUs
- Exemption from payment of customs, duties for imported heavy equipment
- Authority to extend loans to other LGUs and to aid calamity-stricken LGUs

Local Planning Structure

The first character of planning makes it essentially a political act while the second
is the more popularly known character of planning, that of management and hence,
an executive function. Correspondingly, the local planning structure has two
components: political and technical.
Political Component -The political component comprises the legislative body
(Sanggunian) and the local development council (LDC). These bodies are
composed mainly of elective officials, hence, of politicians
Technical Component-The technical component is made up of the local
special bodies, the sectoral and functional committees, non-government
sectors, and the office of the local planning and development coordinator.

MANDATED PLANS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

The plan outputs that the local planning structure is mandated to produce are of
two types: the comprehensive land use plan and the comprehensive development
plan.
 The CLUP is the plan for the management of local territories. Planning as
management of local territories is a function of the LGU pursuant to its status
as a political unit. Hence, the body principally responsible for the CLUP is no
less than the highest policy-making body, the legislative council or
Sanggunian.
 Areas for living (settlements),
 Areas for making a living (production),
 The areas taken up by infrastructures to connect and support the two
areas (infrastructure),
 The life support systems (protected areas).

The CDP has to be understood in the sense of “multi-sectoral” development.

Again, while the CLUP is a plan for the management of local territories, the
CDP is the plan for the promotion of the general welfare of the local
inhabitants. The CDP can be regarded as an action plan and an implementing
instrument of the CLUP
 Social development plan
 Infrastructure and land use development plan
 Environmental management plan
 Institutional development plan
PREPARATION OF COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
STEP #1 Organize and Mobilize the Planning Team
STEP 2 Revisit Existing Plans and Review LGU Vision
STEP 3 Prepare Ecological Profile
STEP 4 Prepare the Local Development Investment Program
STEP 5 Prepare Needed Implementation Instruments
SPECIAL BODIES UNDER THE LGC
The Local Development Council is tasked to assist the corresponding Sanggunian in
setting the direction of economic and social development, and coordinating
development efforts within its territorial jurisdiction. It is also tasked to create a
comprehensive multi-sectoral development plan to be approved by the
Sanggunian.
The composition of the local development council shall be as follows:
The Barangay development council
The city or municipal development council
The provincial development council

Representation of Non-Governmental Organizations

Within a period of sixty (60) days from the start of organization of local
development councils, the nongovernmental organizations shall choose from
among themselves their representatives to said councils. The local Sanggunian
concerned shall accredit nongovernmental organizations subject to such criteria as
may be provided by law.
Functions of Local Development Councils.
The provincial, city, and municipal development councils shall exercise the
following functions:
 Formulate long-term, medium-term, and annual socioeconomic
development plans and policies;
 Formulate the medium-term and annual public investment programs
 Appraise and prioritize socioeconomic development programs and
projects
 Formulate local investment incentives to promote the inflow and
direction of private investment capital;
  Coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of development
programs and projects;
 Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or competent
authority.
The Barangay development council shall exercise the following functions:
 Mobilize people's participation in local development efforts;
 Prepare Barangay development plans based on local requirements;
 Monitor and evaluate the implementation of national or local programs and
projects; and
 Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or competent
authority.

Meetings and Quorum.

The local development council shall meet at least once every six (6) months or as
often as may be necessary
Executive Committee.
Each local development council shall create an executive committee to represent
it and act in its behalf when it is not in session.
The executive committee shall exercise the following powers and functions:
 Ensure that the decision of the council are faithfully carried out and
implemented;
 Act on matters requiring immediate attention or action by the council;
 Formulate policies, plans, and programs based on the general principles laid
down by the council; and
 Act on other matters that may be authorized by the council

Sectoral or Functional Committees.

The local development councils may form sectoral or functional committees to
assist them in the performance of their functions.
Secretariat.
There is hereby constituted for each local development council a secretariat which
shall be responsible for providing technical support, documentation of
proceedings, preparation of reports and such other assistance as may be required
in the discharge of its functions.

Relation of Local Development Councils to the Sanggunian and the Regional

Development Council
The policies, programs, and projects proposed by local development councils shall
be submitted to the Sanggunian concerned for appropriate action. The local
development plans approved by their respective Sanggunian may be integrated
with the development plans of the next higher level of local development council.
The approved development plans of provinces, highly-urbanized cities, and
independent component cities shall be submitted to the regional development
council, which shall be integrated into the regional development plan for
submission to the National Economic and Development Authority, in accordance
with existing laws.
Budget Information.
The Department of Budget and Management shall furnish the various local
development councils information on financial resources and budgetary allocations
applicable to their respective jurisdictions to guide them in their planning
functions.

LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD (LSB)

The main function of the LSB is to allocate the Special Education Fund (SEF) to meet
the supplementary needs of the local public schools. It also serves as an advisory
committee to the Sanggunian concerned on educational matters and
recommending changed in the names of public schools within the locality covered
for enactment by the Sanggunian
LOCAL HEALTH BOARD
The Local Health Board is the advisory body on health matters that is concerned
with local health agencies on matters such as personnel selection and promotion,
bids and awards, grievances and complaints, personnel discipline, budget review,
operations review and other similar functions.
LOCAL PEACE & ORDER COUNCIL
The Local Peace and Order Council is a local special body tasked to aid in
maintaining peace, order and public safety, dealing with criminality and insurgency,
and curbing illegal gambling activities. Every province, city and municipality is
mandated to create a POC.

PRE-QUALIFICATION BIDS & AWARDS COMMITTEE

The PBAC is responsible for the conduct of prequalification of contractors, bidding,
evaluation of bids, and the recommendation of awards concerning local
infrastructure projects.