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Philippines 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
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 or Muslim
insurgents were active. In practice, provincial governors gained
considerable leverage if they could deliver a bloc of votes to
presidential or senatorial candidates. Control over provinces
generally alternated between two rival aristocratic families.
During Marcos's authoritarian years (1972-86), a Ministry of
Local Government was instituted to invigorate provincial,
municipal, and
barangay (see Glossary)
governments. But,
Marcos's real purpose was to establish lines of authority that
bypassed provincial governments and ran straight to Malacañang.
All local officials were beholden to Marcos, who could appoint or
remove any provincial governor or town mayor. Those
administrators who delivered the votes Marcos asked for were
rewarded with community development funds to spend any way they
liked.
After the People's Power Revolution, the new Aquino
government decided to replace all the local officials who had
served Marcos. Corazon Aquino delegated this task to her
political ally, Aquilino Pimentel. Pimentel named officers in
charge of local governments all across the nation. They served
until the first local elections were held under the new
constitution on January 18, 1988. Local officials elected in 1988
were to serve until June 1992, under the transitory clauses of
the new constitution. Thereafter, terms of office were to be
three years, with a three-term limit.
Data as of June 1991
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