and the Fifth Republic
Corazon C. Aquino was inducted into office on February 25, 1986 as President of the Philippines, replacing Ferdinand E. Marcos. On March 25 of the same year, President Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3 ushering in a provisional government which was revolutionary in nature. Proclamation No. 3 provided for a provisional Constitution, also known as the Freedom Constitution, which was in substance the 1973 Constitution.
The ratification of the new Constitution on February 2, 1987 marked the coming into being of the Fifth Republic. The 1987 Constitution incorporates one whole article on local government which makes the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays as the territorial and political subdivisions of the Philippines and ordains the establishment of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras (Sec. 1, Art. X). The most significant provision of Article X is Section 2 which proclaims that the political subdivisions of the country shall enjoy autonomy. Furthermore, Sec. 3 thereof mandates the enactment by Congress of a Local Government Code.
Pursuant to and in compliance with aforesaid constitutional mandate, Congress enacted R.A. No. 7160 on October 10, 1991 providing for a Local Government Code. The LGC or Code, for brevity, has been undergoing implementation, thereafter.
The 1986 Provisional “Freedom” Constitution Of The Republic Of The Philippines
THE 1986 PROVISIONAL
“FREEDOM” CONSTITUTION
OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROCLAMATION NO. 3
DECLARING A NATIONAL POLICY TO IMPLEMENT THE REFORMS MANDATED BY THE PEOPLE, PROTECTING THEIR BASIC RIGHTS, ADOPTING A PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN ORDERLY TRANSITION TO A GOVERNMENT UNDER A NEW CONSTITUTION.
WHEREAS, the new government was installed through a direct exercise of the power of the Filipino people assisted by units of the New Armed Forces of the