LOCAL GOVERNMENT – refers

to a political subdivision of a nation

or state which is constituted by law
and has substantial control of local
affairs, with officials elected or
otherwise locally selected.
SECTION 1 Territorial and political subdivisions of
the Republic of the Philippines are the:

Political subdivisions:

1.) Provinces
2.) Cities
3.) Municipalities; and
4.) Barangays
There shall be Autonomous regions in:
1.) Muslim Mindanao; and
2.) Cordilleras

NOTE :
1.) A third autonomous regions would require a constitutional
amendment.
2.) These political subdivisions, created by the Constitution
cannot be replaced by AMENDMENT, and not by law.
3.) While Congress can abolish or eradicate individual units,
it cannot abolish an entire class of LGU’s.
IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Local governments are viable organs for

the performance of local functions. As local
affairs can best be regulated by the people
in the locality rather than by the central
authority, the grant of local autonomy to
local units is considered extremely necessary
for a more efficient local government system.
TERRITORIAL AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
OF THE PHILIPPINES

1.) Provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays are political

bodies corporate endowed with powers to be exercised by and
through their respective local governments conformably with law.

(a) Provinces are composed of several municipalities and (in

some cases) cities. Cities are urban centers of population.
Barangays are units of cities (except a few where there are no
barangays) or municipalities in which they are situated.

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 (b) As they are now provided in the Constitution, there
must always be political subdivisions known as provinces,
cities, municipalities, and barangays.

2.) The creation of special metropolitan political

subdivisions and autonomous regions for Muslim Mindanao
and for the Cordilleras by law must comply with the
provisions of Sections 11 and 18, respectively.

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SECTION 2 Local Autonomy of the territorial
and political subdivisions
Local Autonomy - is the exercise of certain basic
powers, i.e., police power, power of eminent
domain, and taxing power, by local government
units so as to best serve the interest and promote
the general well-being of their inhabitants.

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1.) All political subdivisions shall enjoy local autonomy.
2.) This doesn't mean that the LGU's are completely free
from the central government.
(a) Judiciary may still pass on LGU actions
(b) President may exercise disciplinary power over
LGU officials.

Decentralization - is the process of transferring basic

powers from the national to the local governments to allow
maximum participation of the citizens in governmental and
community activities. The degree of local autonomy is
dependent upon the extent decentralization is affected.
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REASONS FOR GRANTING LOCAL AUTONOMY
1.) Importance of local solutions to local problems.

2.) Need for orderly management of local affairs.

3.) Desirability of self-reliance.

4.) Need for fullest development of local governments.

5.) Innate desire for self-government.

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Mechanisms of recall, initiative, and referendum.

1.) Recall of officers - legal process by which the

registered voters of a local government unit remove, for
loss of confidence, elective local officials. It is the method
of removing persons from office by the submission of the
question as to whether or not they shall be removed, to
the qualified voters at an election held for the purpose or
at a general election.

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SECTION 3 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. 2019/7/30
2.) Initiative - legal process whereby the registered
voters of a local government unit may directly
propose, enact, or amend any law or ordinance at
polls called for the purpose independently or the
regularly constituted local legislative body.

3.) Referendum - legal process whereby the registered

voters of the local government unit concerned may
approve, amend, or reject an ordinance enacted by a
local legislative body when the question is submitted to
them for decision.
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SECTION 4 Presidential Supervision of LGUs
Supervision of President

1.) The President exercises general supervision over all LGUs.

2.) The President exercises DIRECT supervision over;

(a) Provinces
(b) Autonomous regions, and
(c) Independent cities

3.) This power is limited to ensuring that lower officers exercise their
functions in accordance with law. 2019/7/30
4.) The President cannot substitute his judgement for that of an
LGU official unless the latter is acting contrary to law.

5.) The President may,however, impose administrative sanctions

against LGU officials, such as suspension for 120 days, and may
even remove them from their posts, in accordance with law.

6.) Provinces exercise direct supervision over component cities

and municipalities.

7.) Cities and municipalities exercise direct supervision over

component barangays.
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SECTION 5 Each local government shall have the
power to create own sources of revenue/levy
taxes, fees and charges.
Limitations on Power
1) It is subject to such guidelines and limitations as Congress
may provide. See Local Government Code for examples.
2) The guidelines set by Congress should be consistent with the
basic policy of local autonomy.
Accrual of taxes, fees, charges

The taxes, fees and charges shall accrue

exclusively to the local governments. 2019/7/30