Tongson, Marlene-Ruth C.

Tongson
2015-90479

History and evolution of the Philippine Local Government and Administration in Reading in Local Government in the
Philippines (Tapales)

Summary:
1. Baranganic States
Prior to the Philippines being colonized by Spain in 1521, it had a thriving socio-economic units called
Barangays and sovereign political units called Barangays or Sultanates. These Barangays were headed by a Datu
acting as legislator, judge, and executioner. The laws promulgated by datus and barangay elders kept the
barangay units.A Babaylan (usually female), presided over religious ce remonies as well as acted as doctor/
astrologer. A panday had responsibility over technology making tools used by residents.
Datu position (called hari or king) was not always hereditary; it was often passed to the best, most
courageous, and brightest male in the barangay. Sometimes even females, as in the case of Princess Urduja of
Pangasinan.
Barangays are numerous, small, separate and free communities; the basis of which is the family, enlarged
into a kinship group, the clan. There were no forces impelling these small communities to unite into a kingdom and
form a nation. Barangays were sometimes grouped together but the same had not attained a level of political
organization that was above and beyond the kinship principle. Exceptions are the Islamic Sultanates of Sulu and
Maguindanao which were called “suprabarangay political institutions” by Corpuz because the Sultan was invested
by the Islam with a political status superior to that of other Datus.
In 1954, Acellana asserted that barangays were states, having all the elements of a state: people,
government, sovereignty, and territory. Its form of government had an aristocracy with monarchial tendency but its
economic structure was that of a feudal state.

2. Colonization and Centralization

When Magellan landed in the Philippines in 1521, he saw the scattered settlements of barangays. This was
also seen by Legaspi, who must have observed the lack of cohesion as a means to achieve Spanish ends. As Laurel
explained, the tactic employed by the Spanish was to facilitate civilization of natives hand in hand with their
systemic religious training. They initially changed the villages from barangays to reducciones, then pueblos. Later,
the natives were settled into encomiendas with Spanish officers as encomenderos. This set-up became perpetual
resulting to the Indians (natives) becoming slaves.
Spaniards, in their colonization of the Philippines, imposed on their new colony a local organization wherein
they substituted barangay for barrios wherein the datus became cabeza de barangay, and the larger barangays
they discovered, they called pueblos.
In 1565, they established the ayuntamiento of Cebu as the first town. A regidor (governor), a Council of 2
alcaldes, concejales, and 2 alguacilde (sheriffs) were appointed.
In 1567, they established the Ayuntamiento of Manila. This became the capital of centralized government of
colonials.
In 1583, Legaspi started organizing other local governments. As a result, the country was organized into
provincias, pueblos, cabildos, and barrios. Headed by gobernadorcillo, alcaldes, and regidores, among others. A
system of indirect elections was utilized where learned taxpayers selected local leaders.
Maura Law of 1893 sought the reform of local governments in Visayas and Luzon for greater measure of
local autonomy but this did not take place because of the revolution.

3. Brief Period of Filipinization

Upon the American occupation, Aguialdo declared the Philippine independence. During this time, Mabini
drew up a plan for local governments aimed to prevent anarchy. A president was appointed as chief of the
province as well as councilors. Each province was placed under a military commander.
The Malolos Constitution provided for the creation of municipal assemblies to administer affairs of towns
and provinces. Local autonomy was curtailed then as justified by the precarious times when unity was essential.

4. Return to Centralism: Local Government During the American Occupation

American recognized the Malolos Constitution of Aguinaldo but they created local governments for ease
of administration. General Order No. 43 of 1899 provided for a municipal council for each town. Shurman
Commission organized towns wherein a president was elected viva voce by the residents. They collected taxes and
enforced regulations. Act No. 82 of the Philippine Commission in 1901 provided for the organization of towns with
officials including a secretary, treasurer, and a chief of police. Initially, these officers were designated but later,
election became the more popular mode for local officials.
The Americans, however, maintained a system of hierarchy and centralization similar to what the Philippines
has been attuned to since Spanish regime. During the Commonwealth period, a system of local government was
established wherein they were under the supervision of the eExecutive Bureau, and later the Department of the
Interior.

5. Local Government in Post-war Era

After the American occupation, the 1935 Constitution as well as Act Nos. 82 and 83 became the basis for
the system of local governance in the Philippines. Under the 1935 Constitution, Local Governments were only
mentioned in connection with the President’s power of general supervision as may be provided by law. Under such
authority, the Congress passed several measures affecting local governments, one of which is the Omnibus Law on
Cities provided for uniformity in governance of cities making the official positions all elective. Under Act Nos. 82 and
83, municipalities and provinces, respectively, were governed.
The control exercised by the president depended upon his own personal and executive style. As such, it is
implicit that the local governments had autonomy and a degree of limitation on the President’s power was upheld.
During the post-war era, local government units were given the power to raise revenue from taxes, leasing of public
utilities, intergovernmental sources, as well as miscellaneous sources. But even after becoming independent, the
Philippines did not alter the centralist relationship between national and local governments.

6. Local Government under Martial Law

In the 70s, the government embarked on an Integrated Reorganization Plan (IRP) which featured the
further centralization of the local governments.
Under the 1973 Constitution, it was mandated that a Local Government Code be enacted to serve as a
guide on the organization, powers, and functions of local authorities. However, before the IRP was passed in the
Congress, Martial Law was imposed by Marcos and translated the IRP as law and an Executive Order using his
legislative power.
He delegated his power of supervision to the Bureau of Local Government. He also renamed barrios to
barangays and designated residents over 15 years old as members of the citizens assemblies.Moreover, he issued
several decrees affecting local government including the creation of Metropolitan Manila. Upon such creation, PD
824 was enacted as a result of the big council of Metro Manila and the strong personality of the Manila Governor.
This brought upon the weakening of cities and municipalities consisting the Metro region.
PD 826 renamed local councils into Sanggunians. It also expanded the membership for all. As a result, it
provided for representation for areas which were not represented before.
In 1983, Batasang Pambansa enacted the Local Government Code. Among the changes brought about
by the enactment of LGC were: (1) The criteria for creation of local government based on income and population;
(2) The classification of cities into highly urbanized and component cities based on income and population; and,
(3) LGC also compiled pertinent laws on local governments and provided for effective structures, and unified
system of procedures.

7. People Power at EDSA, People Power at Grassroots

In 1986, the power of Marcos came to a halt with the advent of the People Power Revolution. During that
time, the Freedom Constitution was enacted. Aquilino Pimentel, as the Secretary of Local Government, terminated
services of incumbent governors and mayors, appointing OICs in their stead. When he became a senator in 1987,
he started to work on a new LGC which was signed into law in 1991 and implemented in 1992. This new LGC
featured the decentralization of the 5 basic services: health, agriculture, social welfare, public works, and
environmental and natural resources. It also provided for increased people participation in local governance and
development.
The 1987 Consitution provided for elections of local officials which was synchronized with the elections of
national officials in 1992. With this, political dynasties were dethroned, while there are some that remained, and
new names came out. Tapales calls this a “transitional politics” where parties and familial groupings would not
matter as the former times.