Local Government:

An overview
CITY GOVERNMENT OF MEYCAUAYAN
BULACAN, PHILIPPINES
JULY 12, 2018
Overview:
What is local government?

What is the structure of local government in the

Philippines?

What are the powers/responsibilities of local

governments?

What is the role of local government in

development?
Local Government, defined.

 The term Local Government refers to a

“political subdivision of a nation or state
which is constituted by law and has
substantial control of local affairs”. (UP Law
Center Constitution Revision Project, Part II,
page 72)
Local Government, its dual personality

1. Public or governmental

2. Private or corporate
Public or governmental

 It is an agent of the state for the

government of the territory and the
inhabitants within the local government
limits.

 Itexercises, by delegation, a part of the

sovereignty of the state.
Private or corporate
 It acts in a similar category as a business corporation,
performing functions not strictly governmental or political.

 They act as agency of the community in the administration of

local affairs.

 It is in this capacity that they are separate entity acting for

their own purposes and not as a subdivision of the State.
(Surigao Electric Co., Inc. v. Municipality of Surigao, 24 SCRA
898)
Structure of Local Governments
 LGUs are created on the basis of
INCOME, POPULATION, and LAND AREA.
It may be divided, merged, or abolished
due to the changes on the same
criteria.
Before any LGU is created, abolished,
divided, or merged, a plebiscite is
required.
Structure of Local Governments

PROVINCE CITY MUNICIPALITY BARANGAY

INCOME Not less than

At least Php At least Php
(average Php -----
20,000,000.00 2,500,000.00
annual) 20,000,000.00

Must be
At least 100 At least 50 properly
2,000 Square
LAND AREA Square Square identified by
Kilometers
Kilometers Kilometers metes and
bounds

At least 2,000; In
Not less than
POPULATION 250,000 At least 25,000 HUC, at least
150,000
5,000
Structure of Local Governments

In 1995, there were 75 provinces, 1 sub-

province, 60 cities, 1,553 municipalities,
and 40,000 barangays.

At present, there are 79 provinces, 113

cities, 1,496 municipalities, and 41,933
barangays in the Philippines.
Structure of Local Governments
National
Government

Independent Highly
Province Component Urbanized
City City

Component
Municipality Barangay Barangay
City

Barangay Barangay
Local Chief Executive Officials of
Local Governments

Province City Municipality Barangay

CHAIRMAN/
GOVERNOR MAYOR MAYOR
CAPTAIN
Powers of Local Government Units
 Police Power

 Power of Eminent Domain

 Power to enact ordinances within their territorial

jurisdiction

 Power to regulate all activities within their

respective jurisdiction
Police Power
 LGUs exercise police power