What are the four levels of government in the Philippines?

National government, provincial government, city or municipal government, and barangay government. Every Filipino falls under all four at once.

How many provinces does the Philippines have?

82 provinces, each headed by a governor and a provincial board.

How many barangays are there in the Philippines?

More than 42,000 barangays, the smallest and most local unit of Philippine government.

What law governs local government units in the Philippines?

The Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160), which defines the powers, structure, and funding of provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays.

Where do I get a barangay clearance?

At your barangay hall. It's typically required before applying for other permits or clearances at the city, municipal, or national level.

Philippine Government Guide: National, Provincial, City/Municipal, and Barangay

One Nation, Four Layers of Government

Every Filipino answers to all four levels simultaneously, not just the level closest to home.

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How Philippine Government Works: From Barangay to Malacañang

A single overview tying the national branches and the four local government levels together: how devolution works, how the National Tax Allotment funds local government, and how election cycles differ across levels.

Read the full overview

Featured Guides

Six in-depth guides published so far, spanning the Executive, Judiciary, and Congress.

Executive

President

Powers, the executive departments and how each was formed, and the full list of presidents since Aguinaldo.

Executive

Vice President

Role, succession function, and the complete list of vice presidents since 1935.

Judiciary

Supreme Court

Composition, jurisdiction, landmark decisions, and the list of Chief Justices since 1901.

Judiciary

Philippine Court System

The Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and the lower court hierarchy.

Congress

Senate

Powers unique to the upper house, current leadership, and the majority/minority bloc system.

Congress

House of Representatives

Standing committees, current leadership, and the party-list system.

Browse by Government Level

Each level has its own elected executive and legislative body, defined under the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code of 1991.

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Which Office Handles What

A quick reference for common civic needs and which level of government actually handles each one.

Need	Level	Office	Note
Barangay Clearance	Barangay	Barangay Hall	Usually required before applying for most other permits or clearances higher up.
Business Permit (Small/Local Business)	City / Municipal	City or Municipal Hall (Business Permits and Licensing Office)	Requires barangay clearance first in most jurisdictions.
Marriage License	City / Municipal	Local Civil Registrar	Issued by the city or municipality where either applicant resides.
Real Property Tax Payment	Provincial or City	Provincial or City Treasurer's Office	Handled by the province for municipalities, or directly by the city for chartered cities.
Driver's License	National	Land Transportation Office (LTO)	An attached agency of the Department of Transportation, not a local government function.
Philippine Passport	National	Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)	Handled exclusively at the national level, with no barangay or city role.
National ID (PhilSys)	National	Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)	Registration sites are often hosted locally, but the issuing authority is national.
Community Tax Certificate (Cedula)	Barangay or City / Municipal	Barangay Hall or City/Municipal Treasurer	Barangays issue it for residents; cities and municipalities issue it for businesses and higher-value transactions.

Requirements and offices can vary slightly by locality. Confirm specifics with your local city, municipal, or barangay hall before applying.

Philippine Government Quick Facts

6 In-Depth Guides Published

1 of 4 Government Levels Live

82 Provinces

42,000+ Barangays

Philippine Government Guide