Decentralization

According to Alex B. Brillantes Jr. and Nora Cuachon from the book called Decentralization & Power

Shift: An Imperative for Good Governance, Governance continues to be significantly influenced by

decentralization. It not only strengthens local governments and communities, but it also addresses the

so-called "democratic deficit" and promotes good governance.

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B. DECENTRALIZATION

Decentralization is the process through which control and authority are transferred from higher to

lower or local levels of a government system.

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Decentralization generally refers to the systematic and rational dispersal of power, authority and

responsibility from the center to the periphery, from top to lower levels, or from national to local

governments, according to Raul P. De Guzman.

There is a participation in this process open to the general public and local government enabling and

ensuring that citizens receive better public services.

That’s why UNDP or United Nations Development Program said that “Decentralization is the logical

application of the core characteristics of good governance at the subnational and local levels.”

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Four Forms of Decentralization

1. Devolution – transfer of power and authority from the national government to local government

units; political and territorial decentralization

- The central government gave a developed territory power and authority to exercise local political

and territorial governance.

- It has an elected local executive, elected local legislative body that passes local

laws/ordinances; THAT HAS specific taxing powers and has jurisdiction over a certain defined

geographical area.

- Devolution is political in nature.

- IN CONCLUSION local governments are empowered for self-governance.

a. Powers

i. Administrative
 ii. FISCAL

iii. POLITICAL

2. Deconcentration – transfer of power, authority or responsibility or the discretion to plan,

decide and manage from central to local levels; administrative and sectoral decentralization

 Deconcentration is administrative decentralization and involves the delegation of responsibility of

the central government agencies to the provincial, city and municipality governments and regional

bodies.

a. POWERS

i. ADMINISTRATIVE

b. EX

i. TAX COLLECTION

ii. IMMIGRATION

iii. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

3. Debureaucratization –

a. Debureaucratization is also the transfer of public functions and responsibilities but the

transfer is made to the private sector and non-government organizations, not to local government

units.
 b. transfer of some public functions and responsibilities, which government may perform to

private entities or non-government organizations (NGOs). It involves the harnessing of the

private sector and non-governmental organizations in the delivery of services through various

modalities including contracting out, private-public partnership and joint ventures.

c. POWERS

i. ECONOMIC

ii. PARTICIPATION

4. DELEGATION- ASSIGNING TASKS TO THE LOWER LEVEL

a. The delegation of government decision-making and administrative authority, as well as

responsibility for clearly defined tasks, to institutions and organizations that are either

under indirect government control or semi-independent.

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DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE

LOCAL GOVERNANCE

- It is the exercise of authority and the authority to exercise administrative and political

functions in local political and territorial units of the State.

- The mainly includes ordinance making or policy-making power concerning the general welfare of the

citizens, maintenance of peace, and order, and economic matters of a particular territory or unit.
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EFFECT OF DECENTRALIZATION IN GOVERNANCE

 Improved delivery of basic services such as providing medicines, equipment, and other essential

supplies in government hospitals.

 The people will be closer to government

 Improved receptivenesss of the government to the people’s need.

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Three Components of Decentralization:

1. Political decentralization - focuses among others on improved planning and monitoring of

development measures, formulating strategies for the active integration of civil society and the

economic sector, and the promotion of information exchange and management.

 Aka devolution since they pass or transfer the authority to the lower level or subnational body

 Giving citizens or their representatives more power in public decision making and enforcement

powers

 They elect authorities for deliberative assemblies and executive bodies

 Accountability and transparency

expenditures

 Ensuring sufficient revenue to regions, thru self financing, expanded revenue base, fiscal

transfer etc.

 Also have power over spending for expenditure and has own budget and accounting

 Has sufficient and adequate revenue

 Has fiscal rules

3. Administrative decentralization - seeks to redistribute authority, responsibility and financial

resources for providing public services among different levels of government.

 Transfer of responsibility for planning, financing and management of public functions from center

to regions

 Responsibilities were shared and exlusive

 Functions of administrative decentralization includes regulating, operating, financing and

reporting

 Owns staff and assets