THE LAW ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

REFERENCES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I.

The 1987 Constitution, Art. X

Local Government Code of 1991, R.A. 7160 (hereinafter referred to as LGC)
Martin, Ruperto G., Public Corporation
Sinco, Vincente G. & Cortes, Irene R., Philippine Law on Local Governments
Pimentel, Aquilino, Jr. Q., The Local Government Code Revisited 2007
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF LOCAL GOVENMENTS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
de Guzman, Reformina & Panganiban. The Evolution of Local Government
in the Philippines in Readings in Local Government
Tapales, P., History and Evolution of Philippine Local Government and
Administration in Reading in Local Government in the Philippines

II.

NATURE AND STATUS

A. Municipal Corporation, Local Government, Defined
Local Government interchangeable with municipal corporations
Alvarez v. Guingona, G.R. No. 118303, Jan. 31, 1996
Basco v. Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corp., G.R. No. 91649, May
4, 1991
B. Nature and Status of Municipal Corporations
C. Kinds of Municipal Corporations
Civil Code, sec. Juridical Persons, State and Political Subdivisions
1. Municipal Corporation Proper
2. Quasi-municipal Corporation
3. Distinguish municipal corporation proper from quasi-municipal
corporation
4. Distinguish municipal corporation from public corporation
D. Dual Nature
1. Dual nature and functions of municipal corporations Sec. 15, LGC
Villas v. City of Manila, 41 Phil, 953 [1921]
Lidasan v. COMELEC 12 SCRA 496 [1967]
Republic of the Philippines et al. v. City of Davao, G.R. No. 148622,
September 12, 2002
2. Purposes
3. General Powers and Attributes
Territory
Secs. 6-24, LGC + Art. 10 Constitution

III.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES

Secs. 1, 3, 11,12, Art X, Constitution
Secs. 1-5, LGC
A. Local Autonomy
Sec. 25, Art, II, Const.
Secs. 2, 4, 11, 12, Art. X, Const.
San Juan v. Civil Service Commission, 196 SCRA 69 [1991]
Pimentel v. Aguirre, 336 SCRA 201 [2000]
Ganzon v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 93252, Aug. 5, 1991
Cordillera Broad Coalition v. COA, G.R. No. 79956, Jan. 29, 1990

IV.

B. Decentralization
Secs. 3, 14, Art. X, Const.
Limbona v. Mangellin, G.R. No. 80391, Feb. 28, 1989
CREATION OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS

A. Nature and powers to Create Municipal Corporations

Pelaez vs. Auditor General, 19 SCRA 569 [1965]
Municipality of Kapalong v. Moya, 166 SCRA 70 [1988]
B. Creation of Municipal Corporations
1. Constitutional Provisions
Secs. 1, 10, 11, 15, 18, 19 Art. X, Const.
Alvarez v. Guingona, 252 SCRA 695 [1996]
2. Statutory Provisions
Secs. 6, 7, 385, 441, 442, 449, 450, 460, 461, LGC
Special Acts or Charters; Presidential Decrees
Cawaling v. COMELEC, 368 SCRA 453 [2001]
League of Cities v. Comelec Cases
571 SCRA 263 (2002)
628 SCRA 819 (2010)
683 SCRA 189
648 SCRA 344
3. Section 68, Revised Administrative Code [1917]
Pelaez v. Auditor General, 15 SCRA 569 [1965]
Municipality of Condijay, Bohol v. Court of Appeals, 251 SCRA 530
[1995]
4.
5.
6.
7.

V.

Municipal Corporation by Prescription

De Facto Municipal Corporations
Attack against Validity of Incorporations
Beginning of Corporate Existence of Municipal Corporations
Sec. 14, LGC
Navarro v. Ermita

ALTERATION AND DISSOLUTION OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS

A. Nature of Power
1. Necessity for defining territorial boundaries
B. Manner or Mode
Secs. 7,8,9,10 LGC
Sec. 10, Art. X, Const.
C. Effects
1. Effect of annexation or consolidation of municipal corporations
2. Effects of division of municipal corporations
D. When there is no Dissolution
1. Non-user or surrender or surrender of charter
2. Failure to elect municipal officers
3. Change of sovereignty
Vilas v. City of Manila, supra

VI.

PLEBISCITE REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 10, Art. X, Const.
Sec. 10, LGC
Padilla v. COMELEC, 214 SCRA 735 [1992]
Tan v. COMELEC, 142 SCRA 727 [1996]
Miranda v. Aguirre, 314 SCRA 603 [1999]
Tobias v. Abalos, 239 SCRA 106 [1994]

VII.

GENERAL POWERS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

A. Police Power

General Welfare
Sec. 16 LGC (General Welfare Clause)
Dela Cruz v. Paras, G.R. L-42571-72, July 25, 1983
Technology Developers, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, 193 SCRA 147 [1991]
Chua Huat v. Court of Appeals, 199 SCRA 1 [1991]
Binay v. Domingo, 201 SCRA 508 [1991]
Tatel v. Municipality of Virac, 207 SCRA 157 [1992]
Judge Tamin v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 97477, May 8, 1992
Patalinhug v. Court of Appeals, 229 SCRA 554 [1994]
Greater Balanga Devt Corp. v. Mun. of Balanga, G.R. No. 83987, Dec.
27, 1994
Tano v. Socrates, 278 SCRA 154 [1997]
White Light Corp. V. City of Manila, Jan. 20, 2009
Closure and Opening Roads
Sec. 21, LGC
Sangalang v. IAC, 176 SCRA 179 [1989]
Cabrera v. Court of Appeals, 195 SCRA 314 [1991]
Dacanay v. Asistio, G.R. No. 93654, May 6, 1992
Macasiano v. Diokno, G.R. No. 97764, Aug. 10, 1992
Pilapil v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 97671, Nov. 26, 1992
MMDA v. Bel Air Village Assn Inc., 328 SCRA 836 [2000]
B. Eminent Domain
Sec. 19, LGC
Sec. 9, Art. III, Const.
Rule 97, Revised Rules of Court, as amended
Moday v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 107919, Feb. 20, 1993
Camarines Sur v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 103125, May 17, 1993
Meycauayan v. IAC, G.R. L-72126, Jan. 27, 1988
Quezon City v. Ericta, G.R. L-34915, June 24, 1983
National Power Corp. V. Jocson, G.R. No. 94193-99, Feb. 25, 1992
City of Manila v. Arellano College, 85 Phil 663 [1950]
Municipality of Paraaque v. V.M. Realty Corporation, G.R. No. 127820,
July 29, 1998
City of Cebu v. Spouses Apolonio and Blasa Dedamo, G.R. No. 142971,
May 7, 2002
Republic of the Philippines v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 146587, July 2,
2002
C. Taxation and Fiscal Administration
1. Local Taxation
Sec. 5, Art. X, Const.
Secs. 128-196, LGC
Secs. 5,6,7, Art. X, Const.
Estanislao v. Costales, 196 SCRA 853 [1991]
Phil. Petroleum Corp. v. Municipality of Pililia, Rizal, 198 SCRA 82
[1991]
Floro Cement Corp. v. Gorospe, 200 SCRA 480 [1991]
Tuzon and Mapagu v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 90107, Aug. 21,
1992
Drilon v. Lim, G.R. No. 112497, August 4, 1994
Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority v. Marcos, G.R. No.
120082, September 11, 1996
2. Real Property Taxation
Secs. 197-283, LGC
Secretary of Finance v. Ilarde, G.R. No. 121782, May 9, 2005
Benguet Corporation v. Central Board of Assessment Appeals, G.R.
No. 100959, June 29, 1992

National Development Co. v. Cebu City, et al., G.R. No. 51593,

November 5, 1992
Province of Tarlac v. Judge Alcantara, G.R. No. 65230, December 23,
1992
3. Shares of Local Government Units in the Proceeds of National Taxes
Secs. 6 & 7, Art. X, Const.
Secs. 284-294, LGC
Pimentel v. Aguirre, G.R. No. 132988, July 19, 2000
4. Credit Financing
Secs. 295-303, LGC
5. Local Fiscal Administration
Secs. 304-383, LGC
D. Local Legislation
Secs. 48-59, LGC
Sec. 9, Art. X, Const.
Casio v. Court of Appeals, et al., G.R. No. 91192, December 2, 1991
Gamboa v. Aguirre, supra
1. Local Initiative and Referendum
Secs. 120-127, LGC
Compare with R.A. 6735
Garcia v. COMELEC, 237 SCRA 297 [1994]
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority v. COMELEC, 262 SCRA 492 [1996]
2. Acts of Sanggunian
1. Ordinance and Resolution
2. Formations
a. Vote
Ortiz v. Posadas, 55 Phil 741 [1931]
b. Essential Requisites of a Valid Ordinance
City of Manila v. Bagui, etc. et al., G.R. No. 118127, April 12,
2005
c. Judicial Intervention
Sec. 4 Rule 64, Rules of Court
V. Perez v. De la Cruz, 27 SCRA 587 [1969]
Homeowners Assn of the Philippines, Inc. v. Municipal Board
of City of Manila, 24 SCRA 856 [1968]