Administrative Code of 1987/Book II/Chapter 1

by Corazon Aquino

Layout 2

Chapter 1—Basic Principles and Policies

Section 1. Guiding Principles and Policies in Government.—Government power shall be exercised in accordance with the following basic principles and policies:

(1) The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.

(2) The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.

(3) Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military.

(4) The State shall ensure the autonomy of local governments.

(5) The territorial and political subdivisions of the Republic of the Philippines are the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. There shall be autonomous regions, in accordance with the Constitution, in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras as may be provided by law.

(6) The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

(7) The right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making shall not be abridged. The State shall, by law, facilitate the establishment of adequate consultation mechanisms.

(8) The powers expressly vested in any branch of the Government shall not be exercised by, nor delegated to, any other branch of the Government, except to the extent authorized by the Constitution.