Philippine Politics and Governance
Second Periodical Test
Pointers to Review
Prepared by:
John Paul B. Mangalus
Three Forms of Decentralization
Devolution: Transfer of power and authority from the
national government to LGUs
Deconcentration: transfer of power, authority or
responsibility or the discretion to plan, decide and
manage from central to local administrative and
sectoral
Debureaucratization: transfer of some public functions
and responsibilities, which government may perform, to
private entities or NGOs
Levels of Philippine Local Government
• Highest is Philippine President
• Lowest form is Barangay
Classification of Cities
HUC and ICC – both are considered Independent Cities,
under direct supervision of the President
HUC – Ex. Angeles City
CC – Deemed as part of the province. Ex. City of San
Fernando, Mabalacat City
Requirements for Creation and Modification of LGUs
LGU creation and modification – the affected people
will need to vote in a plebiscite
Suffrage – a mere privilege, it can be taken away
Types of Suffrage
One man One Vote – every person is entitled to one
and only one vote.
Single Transferable Vote – a voter makes priority like 1,
2, 3, etc. (Ranking)
Plural Voting – Several qualifications are prescribed for
the right to vote.
Open Ballot – The voters raise their hands to support a
candidate. Usually used in legislative assemblies
Secret Ballot – The voter casts his vote for a candidate
without the knowledge of another person
Plebiscite - The vote of the people expressing their
choice for or against a proposed law or enactment
submitted to them. Not legally binding
Referendum - The submission of a law by the national
or local legislative to the voting citizens of a country for
their ratification. Legally binding
Initiative - The process whereby the people directly
propose and enact laws
Recall - Method by which a public officer may be
removed from office during his tenure or before the
expiration of his term by a vote of the people after
registration of a petition signed by a required
percentage of voters.
Election - means by which people choose their leaders
Absentee Voting
Overseas Absentee Voting – OFW voting for national
positions only
Local Absentee Voters – people who are working during
election day like: Soldiers, Policemen, Government
employees, Media practitioners, and the like
Voter Qualifications
- 18 years old or above on Election Day
- A resident of the Philippines for at least a year and for
at least 6 months on the place he is registering
- Not otherwise disqualified by law
- Must register
Persons Disqualified to Vote
- Those who have been sentenced to suffer
imprisonment for not less than one year
- Those who have committed any crime involving
disloyalty to the government such as rebellion and
sedition
- Those declared as insane or incompetent persons
Citizenship - an affiliation to a certain country and
government
Involuntary – Jus Soli (place of birth) Jus Sanguinis
(Blood relationship)
Philippines follows Jus Sanguinis (blood)
US follows Jus Soli
Voluntary – Naturalization (like adoption)
Natural-Born Filipino – did not perform any act to
acquire Filipino citizenship
Naturalized Filipino– went through a process of
naturalization
If you marry an alien (foreigner), you will retain your
citizenship unless you renounce it
Ways of Losing Citizenship
Voluntarily
• By naturalizing in a foreign country and renouncing
your citizenship
• Supporting their constitution and
• Serving in their armed forces
• Dual citizenship is allowed by our constitution, it is
dual allegiance that the constitution prohibits and
considers inimical
A Filipino citizen can reacquire his citizenship (if he lost
it), by repatriation, direct act of congress,
naturalization (for naturalized citizens) and after taking
an oath of allegiance
Stages of Social Movements
1. Emergence – the start or spark of a movement
2. Coalescence – Obstacles have been overcome
which many fail to overcome
3. Bureaucratization –relies on trained staff to carry
out the functions of the organization
4. Decline – Success, failure, co-optation, or
repression
Some features of civil society are:
• Peace building
• Advocacy and public communication
• Provides care of women
• Promotes rehabilitation of those affected by natural
disasters
Social Movements
• Played a key role in the country’s democracy
• Advocate independence and self-reliance
• Aim for local reforms of law
• Build solidarity among masses
• Even if the movement fails, the advocacy doesn’t
die
• Can be taught of as organized and INFORMAL social
entities

Civil Society – third sector of society; includes:

• Civil society groups
• NGOs
• Trade unions
• Faith-based organizations
• Indigenous people’s movements
• Foundations

Functions of Civil Society

• Protection
• Monitoring
• Advocacy and public communication
• Social cohesion
• Intermediation and facilitation
• Service delivery

WHO claims regarding Civil Society

• Non-State
• Not-for-profit
• Formed by the people

NGO means Non-Government Organization