DECENTRALIZATION, DEVOLUTION AND DEMOCRATIZATION: OLD

CONCEPTS, CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

ALEX B. BRILLANTES JR., Ph.D

1972-1986 Marcos Dictatorship

February 1986 Marcos Dictatorship was overthrown
1986 Period of transition to DEMOCRACY
1972 Imposition of Martial Law
POWER SHIFT (adoption of 1987 Constitution and Local Government Council
of 1992)
- The decentralized politico-administrative set-up has been adopted
with powers being transferred to lower level political institutions,
thus widening the base for participation in governance and simply
making the political system more open and accessible
DECENTRALIZATION according to Raul De Guzman
- Refers to the systematic and rational dispersal of power, authority
and responsibility from the center of periphery, from top to low
levels, or from the national to local governments
2 MAJOR REASONS WHY GOVERNMENT DECENTRALIZE
1. Decentralization hastens decision making processes by decongesting
central government and decreasing red tape
2. Increases citizen participation. Empowers them thereby leading to
more open and democratic government
3 MAJOR FORMS OF DECENTRALIZATION
1. Deconcentration transfer of functions to low level administrative units
designated by the central office
Integrated Reorganization Plan (IRP) division of the country into initially
eleven administrative regions and the establishment of regional offices of
the many national government agencies throughout the country within
the context of decentralization and deconcentration
2. Devolution transfer of powers and authorities to lower level political
or local government units; related to local autonomy

Local Government Major Features:

 - Elected local executive
- Elected local legislative body that passes local laws/ordinances
- Specific taxing powers
- Jurisdiction over a certain geographical area

3. Debureaucratization transfer of powers and authorities to units not

within the purview of government. Involves the transfer of such to non-
governmental organizations (NGO) and peoples organization (PO);
harnesses the energies of private sector to bring about good
governance; referred as civil society
DEMOCRATIZATION
- The struggle for and establishment of a democratic state; as well as,
in its usual sense
- The struggle against an authoritarian regime, ending in its
transformation or overthrow and replacement by a democratic
government, and the consolidation of democracy
Filipino colonial democracy under the U.S. was largely peaceful
struggle of the first kind, following its initial violent phase (The
Philippine-American War)
The Philippine Revolution was a violent struggle, also of the first kind
The EDSA Revolution of 1986 was a high point in the worlds decade of
democracy that climaxed in 1991. The virtually bloodless EDSA Revolution
was deemed miraculous by many of its participants and observers precisely
because of the normally violent encounters between the government forces
and the insurgents