Articles X to XII

Autonomous regions are territorial and political subdivisions in the Constitution.

• True

• False

Which of the following statements is FALSE

• The national government can only provide for funding of a program under the annual general appropriations act that does not involve the delivery of basic services within the jurisdiction of the Local Government Unit.

• The national government is NOT precluded from taking a direct hand in the formulation and implementation of national development programs especially where it is implemented locally in coordination with the LGUs concerned.

• The concept of local autonomy does not imply the conversion of local government units into "mini-states."

• With local autonomy, the Constitution did nothing more than "to break up the monopoly of the national government over the affairs of the local government."

Answer explanation

The essence of this express reservation of power by the national government is that, unless an LGU is particularly designated as the implementing agency, it has no power over a program for which funding has been provided by the national government under the annual general appropriations act, even if the program involves the delivery of basic services within the jurisdiction of the LGU.

• - Pimentel, Jr. v. Ochoa

Autonomy is either decentralization of administration or decentralization of power.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

There is decentralization of administration when the central government delegates administrative powers to political subdivisions in order to broaden the base of government power and in the process to make local governments 'more responsive and accountable' and 'ensure their fullest development as self-reliant communities and make them more effective partners in the pursuit of national development and social progress.'

Decentralization of power, on the other hand, involves an abdication of political power in the [sic] favor of local governments [sic] units declared to be autonomous. In that case, the autonomous government is free to chart its own destiny and shape its future with minimum intervention from central authorities.

Can Congress impose conditions for the release of the Internal Revenue Allotment for Local Government Units?

• Yes

• No

Answer explanation

To the Court's mind, the entire process involving the distribution and release of the LGSEF is constitutionally impermissible. The LGSEF is part of the IRA or "just share" of the LGUs in the national taxes. To subject its distribution and release to the vagaries of the implementing rules and regulations, including the guidelines and mechanisms unilaterally prescribed by the Oversight Committee from time to time, as sanctioned by the assailed provisos in the GAAs of 1999, 2000 and 2001 and the OCD resolutions, makes the release not automatic, a flagrant violation of the constitutional and statutory mandate that the "just share" of the LGUs "shall be automatically released to them." The LGUs are, thus, placed at the mercy of the Oversight Committee.

• - Province of Batangas v. Hon. Romulo

Congress may limit the Local Government Units' levy taxes.

• True

• False

Which is broader?

• National Taxes

• National Internal Revenue Taxes

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

• Public corporations are now commonly known as local governments.

•  

  Local governments are the bodies politic established by law partly as agencies of the State to take over in the civil governance of the country in cities and municipalities.

• Local governments, being the mere creatures of the State, are subject to the will of Congress, their creator.

• The continued existence of local governments is governed by law; thus, cannot be dependent on the discretion of Congress.

The constitutional mandate to ensure local autonomy refers to ____________.

• Devolution

• Decentralization

• Deconcentration

• Deescalation

______________ occurs when there is a transfer of powers, responsibilities, and resources from the central government to the LGUs for the performance of certain functions.

• Deconcentration

• Fiscal decentralization

• Policy decentralization

• Devolution

The term of office of elective local officials of 3 years can be changed by Congress.

• Yes

• No