Republic of the Philippines

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education
Schools Division of Cotabato City
COTABATO CITY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (ANNEX)-DIOCOLANO SITE
Diocolano, Tamontaka 5 Cotabato City
NAME: ______________________________________ QUARTER: 2

SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE GRADE/SECTION: 11-

PANANSARAN

TEACHER: ARIES P. BAUSON CONTACT #: 0965-887-

8659

MELC: Explain the roles and functions of Local Government Unit (LGU). HUMSS_PG12-IIa-b-2
OBJECTIVE: Identify the roles and functions of Local Government Unit;
REFERENCE: DEPED SLM (UNANG EDISYON, 2020)

What I Know (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
___1. It is the lowest level of territorial organization within a state.
the space provided.
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

What Is It

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

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

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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;

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

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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 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:

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 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;

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)

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
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___3. These political subdivisions are under in what government agency?
A. DILG B. DFA C. PCOO
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