REPUBLIC Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 explicitly provides for the structure of local government units including local official's powers, duties and functions of their respective officials, elected or appointed.
The law dealing with provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays was the fruit of the decentralization of powers from the National Government thus giving autonomy to local government units.
In other words, the local bureaucracy is structured to attend to the needs of the people that a government unit is tasked to serve.
Local government units are somewhat patterned to the national government except for the existence of a judiciary as a co-equal branch. The executive and legislative departments meanwhile are present with powers, duties and functions bounded by demarcation lines.
The National Government has three major branches: the executive, the legislative (in the Philippines, we have a bicameral structure) and the judiciary. All three are independent from each other giving life to the "separation of powers" principle as provided under our existing constitution.
A difference in the structure between the National Government and the local government units can also be found in the barangays. The lowest political unit has a chief executive who is also the presiding officer in the sangguniang barangay or the barangay council.
Provinces, cities and municipalities on the other hand, have their chief executives and the units' second in command as the presiding officer of the local legislative department.
In order to create a smooth working atmosphere and adhere to the principles of coordination and cooperation, there exist an executive and legislative agenda. One of its aims is to determine the powers of the executive vis-à-vis with the legislative and to give emphasis to the fence that divides the two branches of the said local government units. It also targets to instill cooperation between the two.
The relationship of the implementor and the legislators is so vital that services to the people depend much on these branches working hand in hand with each other. Their co-existence can be likened to the relationship of parents. The welfare of the children depends on how a father and a mother treat each other. A symbiotic relationship is needed to assure a peaceful and progressive cooperation. A relationship between them that is not so smooth shall result into the children sacrificed and deprived of what is due for them.
In Pampanga, where there is supposed a separation of powers come the merging of powers, in its positive and good connotation. From disunity comes "pamisanmetung." From stagnancy comes now real public service. From separation comes the merging. I say there is the merging of powers primarily because of the good working relationship of local officials from the provincial level to the barangays.
The Provincial Government now is finest when it comes to working in unison for the betterment of the province. The executive department is well backed-up by the local legislature. There is now cooperation and unity among the leaders we chose to lead Pampanga.
The line that divides has seemed to have faded as elected officials do now sing the same tune, to the delight of the listeners. We have a real governor who gives a real meaning to good governance that is directly providing the people with basic services from the government.
While the executive and the legislative technically do their respective roles in governance, they are united. While they do their respective jobs, they are in cooperation. Our provincial elected leaders as our parents have not only the sweetness but a mutual understanding as well on how each other are to perform their respective tasks.
We have now a real leader in Governor Lilia "Nanay" Pineda who has followers. We have a kingdom which has a ruler rightfully entitled to rule her subjects. The constituencies in return follow, obey and cooperate with their chosen ruler.
Gov. Nanay meanwhile, is fortunate to have a legislature that supports her plans, programs and activities. The principled and righteous Vice Governor Joseller "Yeng" Guiao is a shepherd who has a command over his flocks. Collectively, the Sanggunian is a powerful co-branch of the Provincial Government. They need each other to move on.
While there is this line that divides, there is this good working relationship that guarantees growth for the next three years ahead.