History and Evolution of
Philippine Local Government and
Administration
Baranganic States
• Headed by a Datu who acted as legislator, judge and
executioner.
• Babaylan served religious ceremonies
/doctor/astrologer
• Panday made technological contributions
Over 300 years of Spanish
Rule
Colonization & Centralization
• Indigenous Community organizations
disintegrated
• An alien system of local government
was put in place
• High degree of centralization in Manila,
the capital, was to characterize
national-local relations.
• Datus became cabezas de barangay
• Pueblo – larger union of barangays
• Manila became the capital of the
centralized gov’t of colonials
• Royal Decree of 1583 – local
governments were organized
(provincias, cabildos, pueblos and
barrios)
Brief Period of
Filipinization
• Aguinaldo declared independence on
June 12, 1898 at Kawit, Cavite after the
Spaniards left.
• Apolinario Mabini drew up a local
government plan to acquire provincial
support
• At the provincial level, the chief was
elected by townheads.
The Malolos Constitution
During the American Occupation
• Return to centralism, where local
governments were to be in American -
occupied areas for ease of
administration.
• Such were established under the
direction of the Military Governor in
1899.
• Pertinent laws include General Order
No. 43 of 1899 and Act No. 82 and 83
of 1901.
Local Gov’t in the Post-War Era
• In the 1935 Constitution, Act Nos. 82 and
83 incorporated in the Administrative
Code became the legal basis for local
gov’t system
• Congress passed several measures
affecting local government
• Supervision was delegated to the Dep’t of
Interior, before it was abolished in 1949.
Local Gov’t in the Post-War
Era
• One significant feature of local
gov’t administration is the
devolution of limited revenue-
raising powers to local
governments.
Sources of Revenue
• Taxation, including revenue allotments from
national government: real property taxes,
municipal or city taxes, etc.
• Leasing of public utilities
• Intergovernmental revenue sources,
including direct national aid and assistance
• Miscellaneous sources, like tuition fees and
sales of bonds
Local Government under
Martial Law
Government implemented Integrated
Reorganization Plan during 1968-1970
• In effect, it created a regional delineation of 11
regions where a regional center was located in
each.
• Regional Development Councils were
designated
• Department of Local Gov’t and Community
Development (DLGCD)
The 1971 Con-Con
• This Constitutional Convention was called
to revise the antiquated 1935 constitution.
• A separate article on local governance
was provided in the draft Constitution,
mandating Congress to enact a Local Gov’t
Code.
• Before IRP was passed, Marcos declared
Martial Law on Sept 21, 1972.
Further Developments
• The Constitution, with the President’s
imprimatur, was ratified in early 1973 by
citizen’s assemblies.
• Before this was done, Marcos renamed
Barrios into Barangays through the
Barrio Charter.
• PD 826 renamed local councils into
Sanggunians, and expanded membership
was mandated for all such Sanggunians.
Batas Pambansa 337
• Enacted the Local Gov’t Code
• Included provision of criteria for creation of
LGU’s based on Income and population.
• The Local Gov’t Code of 1983 compiled
together pertinent laws on local gov’t,
provided for effective structures, and unified
systems and procedures.
• Such quick and sweeping reforms became
confusing and reduced autonomy.
The Freedom Constitution
• Marcos was Ousted in February 1986
• The Aquino Gov’t drafted the Freedom
Constitution while a Con-Com
deliberated on a new one.
• Terminated services of incumbent gov
and mayors- replaced by OICs (for 2 yrs)
• Then Sen. Pimentel proposed a new
Local Gov’t Code, implemented 1992 as
RA 7160.
Republic Act 7160
• A landmark piece of legislation
• Modifies sectoral representation to
include women, agriculture and
industrial workers, ethnic groups and
the urban poor
• Elections of local officials to be held
every three years
