History Of Public Admin.docx

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

I. THE SPANISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT From 1565 to 1821, the Philippines was indirectly governed by the Kingdom of Spain through Mexico. From 1821 when Mexico obtained her independence from Spain, to 1898, the Philippines was ruled directly from Spain. With its goal of bringing the Catholic Religion to the New World, Spain was also able to use the existing church governments for its own political uses. Today, religion and politics continue to mix in Latin America.

GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINE UNITARY The government which Spain established in the Philippines was centralized in structure and national in scope. The barangays were consolidated into town, each headed by a Gobernadorcillo popularly called capitan, and the towns into provinces, each headed by a governor who represented the Governor General in the province. The Philippines is a republic with presidential form of government wherein power is equally divided among its three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Legislative belongs to Congress, execution to the Executive, and settlement of legal controversies to the Judiciary.

II. PHILIPPINE REVOLUTIONARY ERA A) THE KATIPUNAN GOVERNMENT The Katipunan was secret society that precipitated our glorious revolution on August 26, 1896. It was organized by Andres Bonifacio. The central government of the Katipunan was vested in a Supreme Council. In each province there was a Provincial Council and in each town, a Popular Council. The Judicial Power was exercised by a Judicial Council. The Katipunan was replaced by another government whose officials headed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo as President, were elected in the Tejeros Convention held on March 22, 1897.

B) BIAK-NA-BATO REPUBLIC On November 1, 1897, a republic was established by Gen. Aguinaldo in Biak-na-Bato (now San Miguel de Mayuma, Bulacan). It had a constitution which was to take effect for two years only. It declared that the aim of the revolutions was the “separation of the Philippines from the Spanish monarchy and their formation into an independence state”. The Biak-na-Bato Republic lasted up to December 15, 1897, with conclusion of the “Pact of Biak-na-Bato”. Following the outbreak of the Spanish-American was on April 25, 1898, Gen. Aguinaldo in view of the chaotic conditions in the country, established the Dictatorial Government on May 24, 1898. The most important achievements of the Dictatorial government were (a) the Proclamation of the Philippine Independence at Kawit on June 12, 1898; and (b) the reorganization of local governments.

C) REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT In the administration of the Philippines, the Governor-General was assisted by many boards and officers, particularly the Board of Authorities and the Council of Administration. The decree-making such change stated that the aim of the new government were (a) struggle for the independence of the Philippines, until all nations including Spain will expressly recognize it; and (b) to prepare the country for the establishment of a real republic.

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II.GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES DURING THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION

A) MILITARY GOVERNMENT The American military rule in the Philippines began on April 4,1898, the day after the capture of Manila. The existence gave the President of the United States the power to establish a Military Government in the Philippines, as Commander-in-Chief of all Armed Forces of the United States. His authority was delegated to the military governor who exercised as long as the war lasted, all powers of government. Wesley Merrit, the second was General Elwell Otis, and the third and last was Major General Arthur Mac Arthur, Jr.

B) CIVIL GOVERNMENT Pursuant to the so-called Spooner Amendment (on the army appropriation act passed in the US Congress on March 3, 1901) which ended the military regime in the Philippines, the Civil Government was inaugurated in Manila on July 4, 1901. The Civil Governor whose positions was created on October 29, 1901. The Civil Governor, also exercised legislative powers. He remained as President of the Philippine Commission, the sole law-making body of the government from 1901-1907. From 1907 to 1916, the Philippine Commission acted as the upper house of the legislative branch with the Philippine Assembly serving as the lower house. With the passage of the Spooner Law in 1916, these two bodies gave way to the Philippine Legislature. The Philippines was represented in the United States by two Resident Commissioners who were elected the Philippine Legislature.

C) COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT The next stage in the political development of the Filipinos was the establishment of the Commonwealth government of the Philippines pursuant to an act of the United States Congress on March 24, 1934, commonly known was the Tydings-Mc Duffie Law. Among other things, the law provided for a transition period of 10 years during which the Philippine Commonwealth would operate and at the expiration of said period on July 4, 1896, the independence of the Philippines would be proclaimed and established. The new government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, deemed successor to the Government of the Philippine Islands, was inaugurated on November 15, 1935 following the first national election under the 1935 Constitution held on September 12, 1935, with Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña, as President and Vice-President, respectively.

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