INTERGOVERNMENTAL

RELATION: NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
SUPERVISION AND
CONTROL OF LGU
KRIZZEL P. SANDOVAL
 What are intergovernmental relations?
Understanding IGR and its importance
Dimensions of intergovernmental relations
POINT OF
Intergovernmental Relations in the Philippines
Local Government Code of 1991
DISCUSSION
WHAT ARE

INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS?
Intergovernmental relations or IGR can be defined as the
“processes and institutions through which governments
within a political system interact.”
 UNDERSTANDING INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS

Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) are an integral and

pervasive part of modern political systems, of growing
importance as complexities of modern governance
increase. They have become a notable feature of federal
political systems; however, they are an important
component of any political system with more than one
level of government.
 WHAT ARE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
AND THEIR IMPORTANCE

All countries, whether unitary or federal, have IGR of some sort,

provided they have more than one level of government.

The growing complexity of government mandates means

that roles and responsibilities between levels of government
are no longer clear-cut. Responsibilities overlap, policy areas
interact, and many public issues cut across several levels of
government and require multiple competencies. As such,
Intergovernmental Relations or IGR has become an integral
component of good governance, coherent public policymaking,
and efficient delivery of public services. 
 DIMENSIONS OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS

There are several different dimensions to IGR that provide the basis for
subsequent analysis of IGR institutions and processes. These include
vertical, horizontal, and sectoral dimensions, as well as the degree of
formality with which IGR is carried out.

Vertical dimension

IGR occurs most importantly in the ‘vertical’ relationship between the central
government and sub-national governments. In unitary systems, these are
usually referred to as National and Local governments, while in federations
we normally refer to the central or federal government and the constituent
units of the federation.
 DIMENSIONS OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS

Horizontal Dimension

Horizontal IGR can take many forms and involve some or all of the
constituent units. Typically, horizontal relations between constituent units
arise to deal with geographic trans-border issues such as rivers, transport,
local taxation, and service provision. In addition, national peak bodies of
constituent unit government leaders have been formed to take joint actions
not requiring the national government, to discuss common issues or to
lobby the national government on issues of joint importance.
 DIMENSIONS OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS

Sectoral

The third dimension of IGR relates to the policy sector in question. The
scope, frequency, and intensity of interaction can vary between policy
sectors, as can the level of cooperation or conflict. Much depends on the
financial dependence of states in each policy area, their constitutional
powers, their administrative experience and technical knowledge and
competence in the area, as well as the political importance of the issue and
how trusted each level of government is regarded within the community in
relation to the particular policy area in question.
 DIMENSIONS OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS

Formal and Informal

IGR occur through both formal and informal means. Formal mechanisms
can be constitutional, statutory, or by way of non-statutory institutions,
agreements, and processes. Informal IGR are inevitably more difficult to
observe but often as important as formal mechanisms, if not more so.
Informal interactions often hold the system together. In addition, there
may be unspoken rules, conventions, or principles that are important to
the conduct and effectiveness of IGR.
 INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATION

1. There should be mutual respect between the

different levels of government.

2. There must be an ethos of

interdependence.
IGR Core
Elements

3. The IGR
mechanism must be a
platform for civic
participation.
INTERGOVERNMETAL RELATIONS IN
THE PHILIPPINES
 INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

1987 Constitution Article X

“SECTION 6 Local government units shall have a just share, as determined by

law, in the national taxes which shall be automatically released to them”

“SECTION 7 Local governments shall be entitled to an equitable share in the

proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth within their
respective areas, in the manner provided by law, including sharing the same
with the inhabitants by way of direct benefits.”
 INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

1987 Constitution Article X

“SECTION 13. Local government units may group themselves, consolidate, or

coordinate their efforts, services, and resources for purposes commonly
beneficial to them in accordance with law.”

“SECTION 14. The President shall provide for regional development councils or
other similar bodies composed of local government officials, regional heads of
departments and other government offices, and representatives from
nongovernmental organizations within the regions for purposes of
administrative decentralization to strengthen the autonomy of the units therein
and to accelerate the economic and social growth and development of the
units in the region.”
 INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Book 1: CHAPTER III Intergovernmental Relations ARTICLE I

CODE OF 1991
National Government and Local Government Units
Section 25. National Supervision over Local Government Units.
 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991
Republic Act No. 7160

(a) Consistent with the basic policy on local
autonomy, the President shall exercise general
supervision over local government units to ensure
that their acts are within the scope of their
prescribed powers and functions. The President
shall exercise supervisory authority directly over
provinces, highly urbanized cities, and
independent component cities; through the
province with respect to component cities and
municipalities; and through the city and
municipality with respect to barangays.
(b) National agencies and offices with project
implementation functions shall coordinate with
one another and with the local government units
concerned in the discharge of these functions.
They shall ensure the participation of local
government units both in the planning and
implementation of said national projects
 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991
Republic Act No. 7160

(c) The President may, upon request of the local
government unit concerned, direct the appropriate
national agency to provide financial, technical, or
other forms of assistance to the local government
unit. Such assistance shall be extended at no extra
cost to the local government unit concerned.
(d) National agencies and offices including
government-owned or controlled corporations
with field units or branches in a province, city, or
municipality shall furnish the local chief
executive concerned, for his information and
guidance, monthly reports including duly certified
budgetary allocations and expenditures.
 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

The case of
FRANKLIN M. DRILON v. MAYOR ALFREDO S. LIM, GR No. 112497, 1994
-08-04
clearly defined the extent of this supervisory power, thus:

“The supervisor or superintendent merely sees to it that the rules are followed, but he
himself does not lay down such rules, nor does he have the discretion to modify or replace
them. If the rules are not observed, he may order the work done or re-done but only to
conform to the prescribed rules. He may not prescribe his own manner for the doing of the
act. He has no judgment on this matter except to see that the rules are followed.”
 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

In this case, the Supreme Court cited the familiar distinction between control
and supervision:

Control being the power of an officer to alter or modify or set aside what a
subordinate officer had done in the performance of his duties and to substitute
the judgment of the former for the latter, while Supervision being the power of a
superior officer to see to it that lower officers perform their functions in
accordance with law.
 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991
Sec. 187 of the Local Government Code provides;
Procedure For Approval And Effectivity Of Tax Provided, however, That such appeal shall
Ordinances And Revenue Measures; not have the effect of suspending the
Mandatory Public Hearings. — The procedure effectivity of the ordinance and the accrual
for approval of local tax ordinances and and payment of the tax, fee, or charge levied
therein: Provided, finally, That within thirty
revenue measures shall be in accordance with
(30) days after receipt of the decision or the
the provisions of this Code: Provided,
lapse of the sixty-day period without the
That public hearings shall be conducted for the
Secretary of Justice acting upon the
purpose prior to the enactment thereof; appeal, the aggrieved party may file
Provided, further, That any question on the appropriate proceedings with a court of
constitutionality or legality of tax ordinances or competent jurisdiction.
revenue measures may be raised on appeal
within thirty (30) days from the effectivity
thereof to the Secretary of Justice who shall
render a decision within sixty (60) days from
the date of receipt of the appeal.
Thank you
 SOURCES

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-8500.12025

Yusingco, Michael Henry, IGR is a Vital Component of Good Governance (August 16, 2019).
ASOG Working Paper 19-012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3439940 or 
http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3439940

Atienza, Maria Ela. “Local Governments and Devolution in the Philippines.” In Philippine Politics
and Governance, edited by Noel Morada and Teresa Encarnacion Tadem, 425. Quezon City:
Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, 2006.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/1991/10oct/19911010-RA-7160-CCA.pdf

https://www.iag.org.ph/think/1859-intergovernmental-relations-in-the-philippines