The Philippine Administrative System and its Implication to Environment and Natural Resources Management

The Philippine Administrative System The administrative system of the Republic of the Philippines is comprised of a central government and its territorial and political subdivisions, which enjoy local autonomy: the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays (smallest administrative unit) and the autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras. The Central Government The Central government, headed by the President of the Republic, with at least 18 Department Secretaries as her alter ego, exercises general supervision over local governments. It should be noted however, that the central government is not a highly centralized system, but operates on the principle of deconcentration or transfer of powers from the central/national level to lower offices (regional, provincial) administratively. The Autonomous Regions The autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras which are comprised of provinces, cities, municipalities and geographical areas sharing, among other things, common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage and economic and social structures are provided legislative powers within their territorial jurisdiction over matters pertaining to, among other things, ancestral domain and natural resources; regional, urban and rural planning development; and economic, social and tourism development; The Provincial Government Although under the general supervision of the central government, the provincial government enjoys a certain level of local autonomy (under the principle of devolution or transfer of powers from the national government to a political subdivision) and is entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth within its area. There are also certain environment and natural resources-related functions that have been devolved to the provincial governments pursuant to national policies and subject to supervision, control and review of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as follows: enforcement of forestry laws limited to communitybased forestry projects, pollution control law, small scale mining law and other laws on the protection of environment; and mini-hydro electric projects for local purposes. The issuance of permits to extract sand, gravel and quarry resources has also been given exclusively to the provincial governor, pursuant to the ordinance of sangguniang panlalawigan (or provincial board, the provincial legislative body).

The Municipal Government The Municipal government is also under the general supervision of the provincial government. However, it also enjoys a certain level of local autonomy (also under the principle of devolution) and is entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth within its area (the share of local government units are divided among the provinces/highly urbanized cities, municipalities/component cities and barangays). As in the case of the Provincial government, the municipal government is also vested with certain environment and natural resources related functions, pursuant to national policies and subject to supervision, control and review of the DENR, as follows: implementation of community-based forestry projects which include integrated social forestry programs and similar projects; management and control of communal forests with an area not exceeding fifty square kilometres; establishment of tree parks, greenbelts, and similar forest development projects; solid waste disposal system or environmental management system; and services or facilities related to general hygiene and sanitation. The City Government The Highly Urbanized City is only subject to general supervision of the national government (as opposed to the component city that is still under the general supervision of the province), but also enjoys a certain level of local autonomy (also under the principle of devolution) and is likewise entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth within its area. As in the case of provincial and municipal governments, the highly urbanized city is vested with certain environment and natural resources functions, pursuant to national policies and subject to supervision, control and review of the DENR, as follows: enforcement of forestry laws limited to community-based forestry projects, pollution control law, small scale mining law and other laws on the protection of environment; and mini-hydro electric projects for local purposes; implementation of communitybased forestry projects which include integrated social forestry programs and similar projects; management and control of communal forests with an area not exceeding fifty square kilometres; establishment of tree parks, greenbelts, and similar forest development projects; solid waste disposal system or environmental management system; and services or facilities related to general hygiene and sanitation. The Barangay The barangay is under the general supervision of cities/ municipalities but also enjoys a certain level of local autonomy (also under the principle of devolution) and is likewise entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth within its area. It is likewise vested with certain environment and natural resources functions, pursuant to national policies and subject to supervision, control and review of the DENR, as follows: services and facilities related to general hygiene and sanitation, beautification, and solid waste collection.

(Contributed by Mr Noel Eusebio Oyardo Padilla, Development Management Officer V, Planning and Policy Service, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Philippines)