TOL VIEWS
Senator Francis N. Tolentino
Through the system of decentralization, local government units are given more power, authority, responsibilities, and resources to deliver basic services and facilities to citizens under its jurisdiction and exercise certain regulatory powers. Accordingly, this transfer of powers from the national to the local government necessitates the election of local leaders to exercise the devolved powers.
On March 25, 2022, Friday, motorcades, caravans, and rallies kicked off the campaign season for the local elections in all parts of the Philippines. This is exactly 45 days before the May 9, 2022 election day for the executive and legislative branches of the government – national, provincial, and local, except for the barangay officials whose elections would be held on Dec. 5, 2022.
A total of 46,120 candidates are aiming for 18,023 local positions, with 845 candidates running unopposed and 3,380 candidates set head-to-head for the same local seat. These local seats include the positions of governor, vice governor, provincial board member, congressional district representative, city and municipal mayor, city and municipal vice mayor, and city and municipal councilors.
Despite the varying political landscape in the local government units, sitting officials and candidates, both local and national, publicly express their support and endorsement for other public office aspirants.
For instance, endorsements of the governors of the top 20 vote-richest provinces are constantly being monitored by the public. Out of the 20, nine provinces, namely, Cavite, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Negros Occidental, Batangas, Iloilo, Quezon, Leyte, and Isabela, have declared their support for certain presidential candidates.
Political endorsements coming from popular public officials are also expected to have a significant impact on the number of votes to be received by the endorsed. To illustrate, the President’s net satisfaction rating remained to be “very good” for the fourth quarter of 2021, according to Social Weather Station (SWS) surveys. His imprimatur, his stamp of approval, a declaration of support for his desired successor, may appear to his supporters that his chosen one would continue his policies, approach, and style of governance.
Setting aside the political aspect of endorsements as a means of increasing popularity and credibility, political endorsements should be viewed as a fight for unity.
First, although local government units are said to have local autonomy, devolution is power-specific. As such, local government units are dependent on the congressional grant of power and authority.
Devolution, as defined under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, refers to the act by which the national government confers power and authority upon the various local government units to perform specific functions and responsibilities. Devolution is power-specific because only those powers expressly enumerated by law are transferred to the local government units, which powers are to be exercised by the local elected officials. Thus, Congress retains control of the local government units, although in a significantly reduced degree.
Second, Article X of the 1987 Constitution provides that the President shall exercise general supervision over local governments. Provinces with respect to component cities and municipalities, and cities and municipalities with respect to component barangays shall ensure that the acts of their component units are within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions. Thus, the executive branch also plays an important role in the exercise of functions of local officials through general supervision.
From the foregoing, we see that political endorsements aim to win public offices in favor of allies in earnest hope to achieve a more efficient and successful execution of the officials’ projects and programs for their local constituents.
It is a fight for unity.