Local Government

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The national government in the 1990s sought to upgrade local government by

delegating some limited powers to local subdivisions and by encouraging people to

participate in the community affairs. Local autonomy was balanced, however, against the

need to ensure effective political and administrative control from Manila especially in

those areas where communist insurgent were active. The 1987 Constitution retain the three-tiered structure of local government. The

province was the largest local administrative unit, headed by the elected governor and

aided by a vice governor, also elected. Other officials were appointed to head offices

concerned with finance, tax collection, audit, public works, agricultural services, health,

and schools. These functionaries were technically subordinate to the governor but also

answered to their respective central government ministries. Lower ranking functionaries,

appointed by the governor, were on the provincial payroll. Te single biggest problem for local government ha been inadequate funds. Article

10 of the Constitution grants each local government unit the power to create its own

sources of revenue and to levy taxes, but this power is "subject to such guidelines and

limitations as the Congress may provide." In practice, taxes were very hard to collect,

particularly at the local level where officials, who must run for reelection every three

years, were concerned about alienating voters. Most local government funding came from

Manila. There is a contradiction in the Constitution between local autonomy and

accountability to Manila. The Constitution mandates that the state "shall ensure the

autonomy of local government," but it also says that the president "shall exercise general supervision over local governments." The contradiction was usually resolved in favor of

the center.