The Country
The Philippine State
The Philippine state is not a federation but it is also not as centrally organized as many neighboring countries. Traditionally, many regions aim at more autonomy, a tendency that was revived after dictator Marcos left. Marcos had, to his own benefit, strengthened central state power to the loss of local and provincial units. Local political bosses regained some of their power after Cory Aquino became President.
The Philippines local government, which is under the general supervision of the President is composed of provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays. These local government units act as agents for the executive branch and represents the inhabitants under its jurisdiction. The Department of Local Government exercises its supervisory authority over municipalities through provinces and over barangays through cities and municipalities. The provincial governor supervises cities and municipalities under his jurisdiction, but large cities such as Cebu City in Cebu Province and Baguio City in Benguet Province, operate independently of the province. On the other hand, city and municipal mayors, assume control of the barangays.
In the Philippines, cities, municipalities and provinces are created by acts of Congress, while barangays are created by ordinance of provincial boards. The duties and powers of local government units are clearly defined and identified in the constitution.
Barangays
The next biggest social frame after the family is the barrio (in rural areas) or the barangay (in administrative language). There are about 40,000 barangays in the Philippines - nearly 5,000 in Metro Manila alone, The word barangay is Malay in origin and meant about the number of people who could be carried in a large boat. Barrio is a word introduced by the Spaniards meaning ward. Barrio and barangay are used interchangeably and correspond roughly to the American precinct or the English parish. Each as a concept was implemented by the Marcos administration and kept thereafter.
The barangay is the smallest government unit in the Philippines, and each municipality or city is so sub-divided. It is the primary planning and action unit for government programs and projects. It is a forum for the collective opinion of a community.
A barangay is created by an ordinance passed by the Provincial Board and City Board, subject to the outcome of a plebiscite called for that purpose in a sityo or pook (part of a barangay, a place).
To qualify each barangay must have a basketball court (while not a legal requirement most residents would rather forgo some other part of the requirement, and indeed even places without a barangay designation will have a place to play or at least a basket for shooting practice), a chapel, a plaza, a health center (which must have a refrigerator to store anti-snake bite sera), a barangay hall and a school.
In addition to be a barangay, a sityo must have a contiguous community with over 1,000 inhabitants. No barangay can be named after a living person nor can it be changed more than once every ten years. Although they are frequently named for saints Manila tends to simply use a number.
The barangay officials are the barangay captain and 6 other elected members. The barangay captain is the head of the barangay government who is obligated to enforce all laws and ordinances operative within the barangay. He represents the barangay and as such can negotiate, enter into a contract for and on behalf of the barangay, maintains public order and assists the mayor and the municipal board in the performance of their duties. He calls and presides over the meeting of the barangay council and the barangay assembly and votes to break a tie. He can appoint and remove barangay officers, approve vouchers for disbursement, enforce laws and look after the general welfare of the barangay.
The barangay council is the legislative body of the barangay which enacts barangay ordinances, provides for the construction of public work projects and facilities with the power of eminent domain, assists in the establishment and promotion of cooperative enterprises such as credit unions, submits requests for or accepts aid from municipal/city, provincial or national government agencies. It holds fund-raising activities, organizes community brigades and assemblies, and can establish non-formal education centers like day care centers.
Barangay courts were established in 1980. They are headed by the barangay captain who acts as a judge in out-of-court settlements of civil and criminal cases within the barangay.
The barangay captain receives a token salary but is held in high esteem by the community he serves. He is a combination of leader, squire, Justice of the peace, lawmaker and enforcer. The barangay captains elect a captain of captains who presides over meetings of the barangay captains and facilitates matters among barangays.
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