Philippine Government  Secretary of Social Welfare and Development - Rex Gatchalian

 Secretary of the Interior and Local Government - Benhur" C. Abalos, Jr.

Power is equally divided among its three branches:  Secretary of Trade and Industry - Fred Pascual
 Secretary of Transportation and Communications - Jaime J. Bautista
Legislative Branch (the law–making body) is authorized to make laws, alter, and repeal them
 Secretary of Tourism - Maria Esperanza Christina Frasco
through the power vested in the Philippine Congress. This institution is divided into the Senate
 Commission on Higher Education - Prospero “Popoy” E. de Vera III
and the House of Representatives. It is vested in both the government and the two-chamber
 Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority - Arsenio
Congress—the Senate (the upper chamber) and the House of Representatives (the lower
Balisacan
chamber).
Judicial Branch (the law – interpreting body) It is vested in the courts with the Supreme Court of the
 Congress is responsible for making enabling laws to make sure the spirit of the Philippines as the highest judicial body that holds the power to settle controversies involving rights
Constitution is upheld in the country. that are legally demandable and enforceable. This branch determines whether or not there has been a
grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part and instrumentality
To craft laws, the legislative body comes out with two main documents: bills and resolutions. of the government. It is made up of a Supreme Court and lower courts. The Constitution expressly
grants the Supreme Court the power of Judicial Review as the power to declare a treaty, international
 Resolutions convey the principles and sentiments of the Senate or the House of or executive agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance, or
Representatives. regulation unconstitutional.
 Bills are laws in the making. They pass into law when they are approved by both houses
and the President of the Philippines.
 The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four Senators who shall be elected at large by the
Presidents of the Philippines
qualified voters of the Philippines, as may be provided by law; the House of 1. Emilio Aguinaldo 1899 – 1901
Representatives shall be composed of not more than 250 (unless otherwise fixed by law), 2. Manuel Quezon 1935 – 1944
20 percent of whom must be Party-list representatives. 3. Jose P. Laurel 1943 – 1945
4. Sergio Osmena Jr. 1944 - 1946
Executive Branch (the law–enforcing body) is composed of the President and the Vice 5. Manuel A. Roxas 1946 - 1948
President who are elected by direct popular vote and serve a term of six years. The Constitution 6. Elpidio R. Quirino 1948 - 1953
grants the President authority to appoint his Cabinet. These departments form a large portion of 7. Ramon Magsaysay Sr. 1953 - 1957
the country’s bureaucracy. It is exercised by the government under the leadership of the 8. Carlos P. Garcia 1957 - 1961
president. 9. Diosdado P. Macapagal 1961 - 1965
10. Ferdinand E. Marcos 1965 - 1986
Cabinet secretaries act as the alter ego of the President executing, with his authority, the power 11. Corazon C. Aquino 1986 - 1992
of the Office of the President in their respective departments. They act as advisors to the 12. Fidel V. Ramos 1992 - 1998
President of the Philippines for their areas. 13. Joseph E. Estrada 1998 - 2001
14. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo 2001 - 2010
 Executive Secretary - Lucas Bersamin 15. Binigno Aquino III 2010 - 2016
 Secretary of Agrarian Reform - Conrado Estrella III. 16. Rodrigo Roa Duterte 2016 - 2022
 Secretary of Agriculture - Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. 17. Ferdinand E. Marcos Jr. 2022
 Secretary of Budget and Management - Amenah Pangandaman
 Secretary of Education - Sara Duterte
 Secretary of Energy - Raphael P.M. Lotilla Charter Change
 Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources – Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga
Also called constitutional reform, Charter Change (Cha-Cha) refers to amendments or revisions in the
 Secretary of Finance - Ralph Recto
1987 Philippine Constitution.
 Secretary of Foreign Affairs - Enrique Manalo
 Secretary of Health – Teodoro Herbosa  Amendments refer to changes that do not affect the overall structure and basic principles
 Secretary of Justice - Jesus Crispin Remulla of the Constitution. (e.g. changing the provision on the term limit of the President is an
 Secretary of Labor and Employment - Bienvenido Laguesma amendment)
 Secretary of National Defense - Gilbert Teodoro  Revisions are changes that involve alterations in the structure. (e.g. an overhaul of the
 Secretary of Public Works and Highways - Manuel M. Bonoan government structure to federalism is a revision)
 Secretary of Science and Technology - Renato Solidum Jr.

“Ignorance of the Law excuses no one”
 ignorantia legis neminem excusat derived from Roman Law. If someone breaks the law, he
or she is still liable even if they had no knowledge of the law being broken.
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines
Approved by the 1986 Constitutional Commission on October 12, 1986, the 1987 Constitution of the
Republic of the Philippines was presented to President Corazon C. Aquino on October 15, 1986.
The Constitution (1987) is the fundamental law of the land in the Philippines. It establishes the
structure, policies, roles, and duties of the Philippines’ government. It contains the Bill of Rights
(Article III) and sets out the State’s obligations to promote and uphold social justice and human rights
(article XIII).
 To protect and define the rights of the citizen.
 Establish how the government should work.
 It teaches how the laws are made to protect those rights.
Martial law involves the temporary substitution of military authority for civilian rule and is usually
invoked in times of war, rebellion, or natural disaster. When martial law is in effect, the military
commander of an area or country has unlimited authority to make and enforce laws.
 Martial Law was declared by President Marcos on September 21, 1972
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003)
The law provides for a comprehensive ecological solid waste management program by
creating the necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives, appropriating funds, declaring certain
acts prohibited, and providing penalties.
Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121)
An act strengthening the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system,
providing for the national disaster risk reduction and management framework, and institutionalizing
the national disaster risk reduction and management plan, appropriating funds therefor and for other
purposes.
Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729)
An act mainstreaming climate change into government policy formulations, establishing the
framework strategy and program on climate change, creating for this purpose the climate change
commission, and for other purposes.
Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990 (RA 6969)
An act to control toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes, providing penalties
for violations thereof, and for other purposes. R.A 6969 provides for the regulation, restriction, or
prohibition of the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use, and disposal of
chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk and/or injury to health or the
environment.
Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147)
The Act provides for the conservation, preservation, and protection of wildlife species and
their habitats, to preserve and encourage ecological balance and biological diversity; it provides,
furthermore, for the control and supervision of wildlife capture, hunting, and trade; finally, it
provides for supporting and promote scientific research on the protection of biodiversity.
National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 (RA 7586)
The National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 (Republic Act No. 7586),
commonly known as the NIPAS Act was enacted primarily for biodiversity conservation. This law
provides the legal and developmental framework for the establishment and management of protected
areas (PAs) in the Philippines.
 Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018 (RA 11038) An Act
Declaring Protected Areas and Providing for Their Management, Amending for This
Purpose Republic Act No. 7586, Otherwise Known as the "National Integrated Protected
Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992" and for Other Purposes.
Environmental Law is the collection of laws, regulations, principles, policies, directives and
agreements enforced by local, national, or international bodies to govern and regulate the human
treatment of the environment.
 Environment Sector Climate Change Commission (CCC), the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). These three (3)
agencies are members of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC). Other agencies that have vital contributions in the environment sector are the
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
Executive Order No. 79 Institutionalizing and Implementing Reforms in the Philippines in the
Mining Sector Providing Policies and Guidelines to Ensure Environmental Protection and
Responsible Mining in the Utilisation of Mineral Resources.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9154 “This Act shall be known as the Mt. Kanla-on Natural Park (MKNP)
Act of 2001” An act establishing Mt. Kanla-on located in the cities of Bago, La Carlota, and San
Carlos and in the municipalities of La Castellana and Murcia, all in the province of Negros
Occidental.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9072 “National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act” Department of Trade and Industry
This is an act to manage and protect caves and cave resources and for other purposes. Department of Transportation and Communications
Office of the Vice President
Presidential Decree No. 825: “Providing penalty for improper disposal of garbage and other forms Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
of uncleanliness and for other purposes. This is one of the Philippine Environmental Laws that was Executive Office
created with an objective for citizens to take on the duty of keeping their environment or Office of the Presidential Spokesperson
surroundings clean Office of the Cabinet Secretary
Commission on Higher Education
Presidential Decree No. 856: “Code on Sanitation of the Philippines” This is one of the Philippine
Climate Change Commission
Environmental Laws that was enacted that all efforts of public services should be directed with the
Commission on Filipino Overseas
purpose of promoting and protecting health.
Governance Commission for GOCC’s
Presidential Decree No. 1067: The Water Code of the Philippines. A decree instituting a water code, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
thereby riving and consolidating the laws governing the ownership, appropriation, utilisation, Mindanao Development Authority
exploitation, development, conservation, and protection of water resources. National Anti-Poverty Commission
National Commission on Muslim FIlipinos
 Presidential Decrees were an innovation made by President Ferdinand E. Marcos with the National Economic and Development Authority
proclamation of Martial Law. It is issued by the President in the exercise of his delegated National Security Council
legislative powers during martial law. These have the binding force of law. Office of the Political Adviser
 Republic Acts are laws passed by the Philippine Congress under the current Constitution
since we have a democratic and republican government.
 Bills - Example, Senate Bill and House Bill - Tawag sa "law" na nasa proposal/deliberation
stage pa lang.
 Decree - Example, Presidential Decree - Tawag sa laws na pinasa ni Marcos Sr. nung
vested pa sya with lawmaking power.
 Resolutions - Example, COMELEC Resolution, Supreme Court Resolution - They are
decisions/policies na pinapasa ng mga offices na may quasi-legislative powers, bale parang
administrative decisions, kumbaga.

Department of the Philippines

Department of Agrarian Reform
Department of Budget and Management
Department of Agriculture
Department of Budget and Management
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Department of Finance
Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Health
Department of the Interior and Local Government
Department of Justice
Department of Labor and Employment
Department of National Defense
Department of Public Works and Highways
Department of Science and Technology
Department of Social Welfare and Development
Department of Tourism