THERE are some 42,000 barangays, 1,496 municipalities, 79 provinces, and 115 cities that comprise our country’s local government. In the past, they merely served as extensions of the national government. In the process, our country’s political development was skewed in favor of the national government. This pattern of governance discouraged people participation and local initiative and promoted over-dependence on the national government.
Participatory democracy means people empowerment which involves greater local autonomy for our local government units (LGUs). It also means a lesser role for the national government in charting local matters. Republic Act No. 7160, the Local Government Code of 1991, created the appropriate environment conducive to promoting local autonomy. Former President Corazon C. Aquino signed this into law on October 10, 1991.
Republic Act No. 7160 is a milestone in our country’s political development, granting autonomy to local government units. With the creation of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of City Mayors, the League of Municipal Mayors, the League of Vice Mayors, and the League of Barangay Captains, our country’s local government units were given greater opportunities to participate in national matters.
Presidential Proclamation No. 114, issued in 2001, declared October of every year as Local Government Month to highlight Republic Act No. 7160 as a landmark in our country’s political history. It speaks of the political maturity of our legislative leaders and their sensitiveness to the will of their constituents.
We congratulate our local government unit authorities for their efforts to make Republic Act No. 7160 a mouthpiece of democracy for our people.
