SECTION 1.

The territorial and political subdivisions of the Republic of the Philippines are the
provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. There shall autonomous regions in Muslim
Mindanao and the Cordilleras as hereinafter provided.
Compositions:
1. Provinces
2. Cities;
3. Municipalities; and
4. Barangays

There shall be Autonomous regions in:

1) Muslim Mindanao, and
2) Cordilleras (At present, it is only the Cordillera ADMINISTRATIVE region)
Note: 1) A third autonomous regions would require a constitutional amendment.
2) These political subdivisions, created by the Constitutions cannot be replaced by
AMENDMENT, and not by law.
3) While Congress can abolish or eradicate individuals units, it cannot abolish an entire class
of LGU’s
SECTION 2. The territorial and political subdivisions shall enjoy local autonomy.
1) All political subdivisions shall enjoy local autonomy
2) This does not mean that the LGU’s ae completely free from the central government.
Judiciary may still pass on LGU actions
President may exercise disciplinary power over over LGU officials
Section 3. Congress shall enact a government code which shall provide for a more
responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through a system of
decentralization with effective mechanisms of recall initiative, and referendum, allocate
among the different local government units powers, responsibilities, and resources, and
provide for the qualifications, election, appointment and removal, term, salaries, powers and
functions and duties of local officials, and all other matters relating to the organization and
operation of the local units
SECTION 4. The president of the Philippines shall exercise general supervision over local
governments. Provinces with respect to components cities and municipalities, and cities and
municipalities with respect to component barangays shall ensure that the acts or their
component units are within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions.
Supervision of President
1) The President exercises general supervision over all LGUs
2) The President exercise DIRECT supervision over
Provinces
Autonomous regions and
Independent cities.
3) This power is limited to ensuing that lower officers exercise their function in accordance
with law.
4) The President cannot substitute his judgment for that of an LGU official unless the latter is
acting contrary to law.
5) The President may, however, impose administrative sanctions against LGU such as
suspension for 120 days, and may even remove them from their posts, in accordance with
law
6) Provinces exercise direct supervision over component cities and municipalities.
7) Cities and municipalities exercise direct supervision over component barangays.
SECTION 5. Each local government unit shall have the power to create its own source of
ravenous and to levy taxes, fees, and charges subject to such guidelines and limitations as
the Congress may provide, consistent with the basic policy of local autonomy. Such taxes,
fees, and charges shall accrue exclusively to the local governments.
Limitations on Power
1) It is subject to such guidelines and limitations as Congress may provide. See local
Government Code for examples.
2) The guidelines set by Congress should be consistent with the basic policy until of local
autonomy.
Accrual taxes, fees, charges
The taxes, fees and charges shall accrue exclusively to the local governments.
SECTION 6. Local government un its shall a just share, as determined by law, in the national
taxes which shall be automatically released to them.
1) Share of LGUs in national taxes is limited to the internal revenues taxes.
2) The share of each LGU should be released, without need of any further action, directly to
provincial, city, municipal or barangays treasurer. Release is made on a quarterly basis
within 5 days after the end of each quarter.
3) The share of each LGU should not be subject to any lien or holdback that may be
imposed by the national government for whatever purpose.
4) Each LGU should appropriate in its annual budget at least 20% of its annual IRA for
development projects.
5) Adjustment in IRA
Ground: Unmanageable public section deficit
President can make the necessary adjustments in the IRA upon the recommendation of the
following:
Department of finance secretary
DILG secretary
DBIM Secretary
SECTION 7. Local government shall be entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the
utilization and development of the national wealth within their respective areas, in the
manner provides by law, including sharing the some with the inhabitants by way of direct
benefits.
Share of LGUs in national wealth
1) LGUs are entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and
development of the national wealth within their respective areas in the manner provided
by law.
2) This includes share the share with the inhabitants by way of direct benefits.
Under the LGC
1) LGUs have a share of 40% of the gross collection derived by the national government
from the preceding fiscal year from
Mining taxes
Royalties
Forestry and fishery charges
Other taxes, fees and charges
Share in any co-production, joint venture or production sharing agreement in the utilization
and development in the national wealth w/in territorial jurisdiction
SECTION 8. The term of office of elective local officials, except barangays officials, which shall
determined by law. Shall be three years and no such official shall serve for more than three
consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be
considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for he was
elected.
Term of office
Elective local officials, now including barangays officials have a term of 3 years
Limitations:
1) No elective official shall serve for more than consecutive terms
2) Voluntary renunciation of office for any length of time shall not be considered as an
interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected.
SECTION 9. Legislative bodies of local government shall have sectorial representation as may
prescribed by law.
Legislative bodies of the local governments shall have Sectoral representation (under the
LGC) as may be provided by law
There should be representatives from:
1) The woman's sector
2) The workers
3) Third sector (can choose from any of the following)

A) Urban poor
B) Indigenous cultural communities
C) Disabled persons
D) Any other sector as may be determined by the sanggunian
SECTION 10. No province, municipality, or barangays may be created, divided, merged,
abolished, or its boundary sustainability altered, except in accordance with the criteria
established in the Local Government Code and subject to approval by a majority of the
votes cast in plebiscite in the political units directly affected.
1) Requisites
Compliance with the requirements of the Local Government Code; and
Approved by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite held in the political units DIRECTLY
affected.
2) Thus, a province is supposed to be divided into 2 separate provinces, plebiscite will
include voters of the ENTIRE province, and not just the area to comprise the new province.
3) LGC requirements relate to matter such as population, revenue, and area requirements.
SECTION 11. The Congress may, by law, create special metropolitan political subdivisions,
subject to a plebiscite as set forth in Section 10 hereof. The component cities and
municipalities shall retain their basic autonomy and shall be entitled to their own local
executives and legislative assembles. The Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan authority that will
hereby be created shall be limited to basic services requiring coordination.
Creation:
1) Congress may create special metropolitan political subdivisions by law.
2) It is subject to a plebiscite
Jurisdiction of Metropolitan authority
It is limited to basic services requiring coordination.
Basic Autonomy of Component Cities and Municipalities
1) 1) The component cities and municipalities retain their basic autonomy
2) They shall be entitled to their own local executive and legislative assemblies.
SECTION 12. Cities that are highly urbanized, as determined by law, and component cities
whose charters prohibit their voters from voting for provincial elective officials, shall be
independent of the province. The voters of component cities within a province, whose
charters contain no such prohibition, shall not be deprived of their right to vote for elective
provincial officials.
Classification of Cities:
1) Highly urbanized (as determined by law)
2) Component cities (cities still under provincial control); and
3) Independent component cities (non-highly urbanized cities whose voters are prohibited
by the city charter from voting in provincial elections)
Independence from the province
1) Highly urbanized cities and independent component cities are independent of the
province,
2) Component cities whose charter contain no such prohibition are still under the control of
the province and its voters may still vote for elective provincial officials.
SECTION 13. Local government units may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their
efforts, services, and resources for purposes commonly beneficial to them in accordance
with law.

Consolidation and Coordination of Efforts, Services and Resources

1) It is optional on the part of LGUs as shown by the use of the word “may”
2) It can be done for purposes commonly beneficial to them in accordance with the law.

Under LGC (Section 33)

1) Consolidation and coordination may be done through appropriate ordinances.
2) A public hearing should be conducted and the approval of the sanggunian obtained.
3) An LGU can:
Contribute funds, real state, equipment and other kinds of property
Appoint/assign personnel under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the
participating LGUs through Memoranda Agreement.
SECTION 14. The President shall provide for regional developments councils or other similar
bodies composed of local government officials, regional heads of departments and other
government offices, and representatives from non-governmental organizations within the
region for purposes of administrative decentralization to strengthen the autonomy of the units
therein and to accelerate the economic and social growth and development of the units in
the region.
The President shall provide for RDC or other bodies composed of:
Composition
1) Local government officials
2) Regional heads of departments and other government offices
3) Representatives of NGOS within the regions

For purpose of
1) Administrative decentralizations
2) To strengthen local authority
3) To accelerate the economic and social growth and development of the units in the
region
SECTION 15. There shall be created autonomous regions Muslim Mindanao and in the
Cordilleras consisting of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas sharing
common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and social structures, and
other relevant characteristics within the framework of this constitution and the national
sovereignty as well as territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines.
Where
1) Muslim Mindanao
2) Cordillera region
Factors
1) Historical heritage
2) Cultural heritage
3) Economic and social structures,
4) Other relevant characteristics within:
The framework of the constitutions
National sovereignty
Territorial integrity.
Creation:
1) Provided by law
2) EFFECTIVELY of such creation occurs only when it is approved by a majority of the votes
cast a plebiscite held among the constituent units.
3) Only those provinces, cities, and Geographical areas voting favorably in such plebiscite
shall form part of the autonomous region.
4) It only 1 province approved the law, NO AUTONOMOUS REGION created, since the
constitution requires more than one provinces to constitute one (like what happened in
the Cordillera plebiscite)
5) The question of which LGU;s shall constitute an autonomous region is one which is
exclusively for Congress to decide.
SECTION 16. The President shall exercise general supervision over autonomous regions to
ensure that the laws are faithfully executed.
By Whom:
The President
Purpose:
To ensure that the laws are faithfully executed.
SECTION 17. All powers, functions, and responsibilities not granted by this Constitution or by
law to the autonomous regions shall be visited in the National Government.\
Examples:
1) Foreign relations,

2) National defense security

3) Monetary Affairs

SECTION 18. The Congress shall enact an organic act for each autonomous region with the
assistance and participation of the regional consultative commission composed of
representatives appointed by the President from a list of nominees from multi sectorial
bodies. The organic act shall define the basic structure of government for the region
consisting of the executive department and legislative assembly, both of which shall be
elective and representative of the constituent political units. The organic act shall likewise
provide for special courts with personal, family, and property law jurisdiction consistent with
the provisions of this Constitution and national laws.
The creation of the autonomous region shall be effective when approved by majority of the
votes cast by the constituent units in a plebiscite called for the purpose, provided that only
provinces, cities, and geographic areas voting favorably in such plebiscite shall be included
in the autonomous region.
SECTION 19. The first Congress elected under this constitution shall, within eighteen months
from the time of organization of both Houses, pass the organic acts for the autonomous
regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.
SECTION 20. Within its territorial jurisdiction and subject to the provisions of this constitution
and national laws, the organic act of autonomous regions shall provide for legislative powers
over:
(1) Administrative of sources of revenues;
(2) Creation of sources revenues;
(3) Ancestral domain and national resources;
(4) Personal, family, and property relations;
(5) Regional urban and rural planning development;
(6) Economic, social, and tourism development;
(7) Educational policies;
(8) Preservation and development of the cultural heritage; and
(9) Such other matters as may be authorized by law for the promotion of the general welfare
of the people of the region.
Limitations:
1) Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and national laws
2) To be exercised within its territorial jurisdiction

SECTION 21. The preservation of peace and other within the regions shall be the responsibility
of the local police agencies which shall be organized, maintained, supervised, and utilized in
accordance with applicable laws. The defense and security of the regions shall be the
responsibility of the National Government.

Peace and Order

It shall be the responsibility of the police agencies.

Defense and Security

It shall be the responsibility of the national government.