12 Senior High School

Philippine Politics and

Governance
Quarter 2 – Module 9
Local Government Units

Sandra Mae Dulay Calpito, MAEd, JD

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 The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer Pre Test before moving on to the other activities included in
this module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
7. If you encounter difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to
consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain
deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

The previous topics presented the powers of the executive, legislative, and
judiciary at the national level. The government is divided into two organs: national
government and local government. The Philippine Consitution provides power and
responsibilities to national government. Meanwhile, the powers of local government is
being delegated by the national government.

Republic Act 7160 known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", governs
the processes and structure of local government units. Local governments are the
political subdivisions of a state. Thus, the local government units will be discussed in
this module.

After reading this module, you will be able to explain the roles and functions of
Local Government Units.

Specifically, this module will help you to:

✓ Identify the different levels of the Philippine local government;

✓ Explain the roles and functions of a local government unit;
✓ Examine how decentralization affects governance;

Activity 1. kaWHOlugan

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Direction: Look at the picture. Answer the questions below.

1. What are the symbolisms evident in the sculpture? What do they

represent?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

2. How do these symbols illustrate the meaning of “equal justice and law”?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

PRE TEST

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MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer
on the space provided.

_____1. It is a subsidiary of the province which consists of a number of

barangays within its territorial boundaries
a. province c. region
b. barangay d. municipality
_____2. The process of transferring and assigning decision making authority to
lower levels of an organizational hierarchy
a. delegation c. devolution
b. decentralization d. deconcentration
_____3. The largest unit in the political structure of the Philippines.
a. province c. city
b. barangay d. municipality
_____4. A law that governs the local government units
a. RA 3200 c. RA 6110
b. RA 7160 d. RA 1324
_____5. It is the basic unit of the Philippine political system.
a. city c. region
b. municipality d. barangay
_____6. It is an administrative type of decentralization when organizations
devolve function, they transfer authority for decision making, finance and
management to quasi-autonomous units of local departments with corporate
status.
a. deconcentration c. delegation
b. devolution d. debureaucratization
_____7. Philippines is divided into _________ regions.
a. 17 c. 19
b. 18 d. 20
_____8. A sub-national administrative unit comprising of several provinces
having more or less homogenous characteristics, such as ethnic origin of
inhabitants, dialect spoken, agricultural produce, etc.
a. barangay c. region
b. province d. city
_____9. The following are the three classes of cities in the Philippines, except
a. highly urbanized c. component
b. indepedent d. constituent
_____10. He is called as the governor during Spanish occupation.
a. alkalde c. cabeza de provincia
b. alkalde mayor d. provincia mayor

LESSON
Local Government Units
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 STUDY TIME

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."
Local governments constitute 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 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.

Local Government
• It pertains to the activity by which local officials, both elected and appointed,
implement the goals and manage the resources of the local government unit .
• Decentralization in the Philippines was effected by RA7160
• Thelocal government code is the framework for local governance in the
Philippines.
• The process of transferring and assigning decision making authority to lower
levels of an organizational hierarchy

Forms of Decentralization
1. Deconcentration – is the weakest form of decentralization and is used most
frequently in unitary states. Redistributes decisions making authority and
financial and management responsibilities among different levels of the
organization.
2. Delegation – is a more extensive form of decentralization through delegation.
Central organization transfer responsibility for decision making and
administration of public functions to semi- autonomous organizations not wholly
controlled by the central government but ultimately accountable to it.
3. Devolution – is an administrative type of decentralization when organizations
devolve function, they transfer authority for decision making, finance and
management to quasi-autonomous units of local departments with corporate
status.

Levels of Philippine Government

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A. Region
• A sub-national administrative unit comprising of several provinces having more
or less homogenous characteristics, such as ethnic origin of inhabitants, dialect
spoken, agricultural produce, etc.
• There are many different regions in the Philippines and it compose of
twelve (16) regions and 143 cities.

1. NCR (National Capital Region)

2. Region 1 (Ilocos Region)
3. Region 2 (Cagayan Valley)
4. Region 3 (Central Luzon)
5. Region 4A (CALABARZON)
6. Region 4B (MIMAROPA)
7. Region 5 (Bicol Region)
8. Region 6 (Western Visayas)
9. Region 7 (Central Visayas)
10. Region 8 (Eastern Visayas)
11. Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula)
12. Region 10 (Northern Mindanao)
13. Region 11 (Davao Region)
14. Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN)
15. Region 13 (Caraga Region)
16. BANGSAMORO Autonomous Region (Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao)
17. CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region)

B. Province
The provincial government takes care of the functionso which affect the people
of a certain province. The province is the largest political unit in the Philippines. It
possess 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 auhtorized by law.
There are 77 provinces in the Philippines. They are classified according to their
average income for five consecutive years. The hiigher the income of the provice, the
higher is its classification. The salaries that can be paid to the provincial officials
depend upon the class to which it belongs. Higher 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 provinciial 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 deparments 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 acquints himself
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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 municipalites and cities within its
jurisdiction; b) it prepares andapproves the provincial budget; c) it appropriates money
for provincialpurposes; 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.

C. City
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 folows: 1) to levy and collect taxes in accordance with law;
2) to enact ordinances; 3) to provide for public workds 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.
• There are three classes of cities in the Philippines: the highly urbanized, the
independent component cities which are independent of the province, and
the component cities which are part of the provinces where they are located
and subject to their administrative supervision.
• Sanguniang Panlungsod
• There are 4 cities as of 11 January 2019.
1. Alaminos City
2. San Carlos City
3. Dagupan City
4. Urdaneta City

D. Municipality
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 peace, and chief of police. The municipal mayor is the chief
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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
councils 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 assigne 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.
• There are 44 municipalities as of 11 January 2019.

E. Barangay
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.
• The smallest political unit into which cities and municipalities in the Philippines
are divided. It is the basic unit of the Philippine political system. It consists of
less than 1,000 inhabitants residing within the territorial limit of a city or
municipality and administered by a set of elective officials, headed by a
barangay chairman (punong barangay).
• Sanguniang Barangay
• Sanguniang Kabataan
• There are 41,948 barangays (villages) throughout the country.
• In Pozorrubio, there are 34 barangays.

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 LEVELS OF THE General PRESIDENT
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OF THE
PHILIPPINE onDirect PHILIPPINES
AUTON
Govern relation CITIES
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PROVI INDEPE
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Neo
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Philippine
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Evolution of Philippine Local Governments

THEN NOW

Cabeza De Barangay BARANGAY Kapitan

Alkalde CITY Mayor

Alkalde Mayor PROVINCE Governor

Criteria for Creation, Merger and Division Of Local Government

LAND AREA POPULATION INCOME

Province 2,000km2 250,000 Php 20 million

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 Highly Urbanized City 100km2 200,000 Php 50 million
Independent City 100km2 150,000 Php 100 million
Component City 100km2 150,000 Php 100 million

Aims of local government code

Purpose: transform LGUs into self-reliant communities and active partners in nation
building by giving them more powers, authority, responsibilities and resources
• Hopes to achieve economic development at the regional and local levels by
giving LCE more freedom in carrying out their programs that are suitable in
their areas

Effect of decentralization in governance

• Improved delivery of basic services such as providing medicines, equipments
and other essential supplies in government hospitals
• The people will be closer to government
• Improved receptiveness of the government to the people’s needs

Local governments have four major categories of functions:

1. Efficient service delivery;
2. Management of the environment;
3. Economic development; and
4. Poverty alleviation.

PRACTICE TIME

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Activity 2.

A. Jumbled Letters!

Direction: Rearrange the letters to form a word.

1. I N O E G R : _______________________

2. T Y C I : _______________________

3. N G Y A A R A B : _______________________

4. V I R P O E C N : ______________________

5. C U M N A I Y T P U I : _______________________

B. Triple Venn Diagram

Directions: Using the Triple Venn Diagram, compare and contrast the three concepts.
Write your answers on the separate sheet.

Deconcentration

Delegation Devolution

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Activity 3. What Goes Up, Goes Down!

Direction: Name the different local government units in descending order. Beside it,
indicate its function.

LEVELS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ROLE/FUNCTION

UNIT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

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Activity 4. Da Who !

Direction: Supply the necessary data.

Mayor

Vice Mayor

Sangguniang Bayan 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Barangay

Punong Barangay

Activity 4.2 What does a Mayor Do?

List down at least 5 functions of a Mayor

1. ________________________________

2. ________________________________

3. ________________________________

4. ________________________________

5. ________________________________

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Activity 5 Let’s Explore Pangasinan

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Direction: Using the Blank Map below, label the different municiplaities in
Pangasinan.

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 KEY POINTS

In 1991, Republic act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local

Government Code was enacted into law, transferring control and responsibility of
delivering basic services to the hands of local government units (LGU). It aimed to
enhance provision of services in the grass roots level as well as improve the efficiency
in resource allocation. Further, it sought to widen the decision-making space by
encouraging the participation of stake holders, especially in the local level.
It is important to note the forms of decentralization namely: Deconcentration –
is the weakest form of decentralization and is used most frequently in unitary states.
Redistributes decisions making authority and financial and management
responsibilities among different levels of the organization.
Delegation – is a more extensive form of decentralization through delegation. Central
organization transfer responsibility for decision making and administration of public
functions to semi- autonomous organizations not wholly controlled by the central
government but ultimately accountable to it.
Devolution – is an administrative type of decentralization when organizations devolve
function, they transfer authority for decision making, finance and management to
quasi-autonomous units of local departments with corporate status.

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 POST TEST

I. ELIMINATION. Select the word that does not belong to the group.

1. barangay district city province

2. devolution decentralization deconcentration disintegration

3. vice mayor governor president mayor

4. chartered highly urbanized regional component

5. Urdaneta City Dagupan City Alaminos City Quezon City

6. contistution resolution statute ordinance

7. location population income land area

8. city municipality province state

9. judiciary legislative department executive

10. CARL CAR ARMM NCR

II. ANALOGY. Supply the missing link by way of analogy.

1. Municipal Mayor _______________ Governor

2. Mindanao _______________ Luzon CAR

3. City Sangguniang Province _______________

Panglunsod

4. Pangasinan Manila Philippines

_____________

5. President 6 years Mayor ______________

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 REFERENCES

Pawilen, R.A. and Pawilen, R.M. (2017). Philippine Politics and Governance. Rex
Bookstore Inc.

Tabajen, R. and Pulma, E. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance.JFS Publishing

Services

Mendoza, Diana J. et al. (2016). Politics Without Borders. Phoenix Publishing House
Inc.

Lazo, R.S. (2009). Philippine Government and the 1987 Consitution. Rex Bookstore
Inc.

Villanueva, Prince Aian G. (2017). Philippine Politics and Governance. Diwa Learning
Systems Inc.

Department of Education – Philippines (2016) K to 12 Senior High School Curriculum

Guide. Philippine Politics and Governance.

Department of Education – Philippines (2020) Most Essential Learning Competencies.

Philippine Politics and Governance.

http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/82027399!.pdf

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ANSWER KEY

Pre Test Activity 2 Activity 3

1. D A. 1. Region
2. A 1. REGION 2. Province
3. A 2. CITY 3. City
4. B 3. BARANGAY 4. Municipality
5. D 4. PROVINCE 5. Barangay
6. B 5. MUNICIPALITY
7. A
8. C
9. D
10. B

Post Test
I
1. District
2. Disintegration
3. President
4. Regional
5. Quezon City
6. Resolution
7. Location
8. State
9. Department
10. CARL

II
1. Province
2. BARMM
3. Sangguniang Panlalawigan
4. Lingayen
5. 3 years

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