Local government refers to political subdivisions of a nation or state that are constituted by law and have substantial control over local affairs. They have the power to impose taxes and their governing bodies are elected or appointed. Local governments provide basic services like garbage collection, primary healthcare, and basic education in local areas. They have defined areas, populations, continuing organizations, and the authority to undertake and carry out public activities. In the Philippines, the basic political unit of local governance is the barangay, which dates back to immigrant settlements from Borneo led by a datu or rajah and council of elders. Over time, the Spanish established other local government units like municipalities, cities, and provinces by evolving the barangay, p

1. Understanding the
Local Government

2. The term “Local Government”, according to
Raul P. De Guzman and Mila A. Reforma
(1992), is defined as a “political subdivision of
a nation or state constituted by law, which
has substantial control over local affairs,
including the power to impose taxes, the
governing body of which is elected or
appointed”.
Local Government

3. Local government has a
“defined area, a population, a
continuing organization, and
the authority to undertake and
the power to carry out public
activities.
Raul P. De Guzman and Mile
A. Reforma (1992)

4. Defined local government as “any sub
national government which is comprised
of provinces, cities, municipalities and
barangays that provides some of the basic
services like garbages collection, primary
health care, and basic education in the
local areas”.
Alma Ocampo-Salvador (199)

5. The term local governance is
a broad concept that dates
back as early as the
baranganic time in the
Philippines
What is local Governance?

6. ● Baranggay known as the basic political unit in
the country was brought in by the immigrants
from Borneo.
● “Datu” or “rajah”
● The datu was assisted by a council of the
elders which decided in matters that were
sensitive to the people of baranggay
Evolution of Local Government in
the Philippines

7. “ cabeza de baranggay”
The other local government units that
were established along the barangay
were the “pueblos” (municipalities)
“cabildos” (cites) and “provincias”
(provinces)
Evolution of Local Government in
the Philippines

8. Whenever a town was freed from Spanish
domination, the inhabitants of the town were asked
to elect and the chief of town and headman of
each.
“Pueblo” to Municipality
“cabildo” to city
“provincia” to province
Evolution of Local Government in
the Philippines