Leadership of Local Chief Executives in the Philippines: A Literature Review

Abstract

Local leadership has proven to be a pivotal force of positive change in a locale. Local political leaders’ actions shape the outcome for citizens considering their knowledge and familiarity with local conditions and their role in addressing the challenges in aspects of poverty, stability and peace, and employment, among others. In particular, the spread of the deadly COVID-19 placed local leaders at the forefront of the pandemic response. The local leaders’ strategies or lack of them in addressing the crisis, underscored the impact of leadership in the lives of constituents. Through systematic literature review, this study attempted to review leadership and the Philippine local leadership literature, with emphasis on the leadership of Municipal Mayors, and has drawn the three key themes: (1) Notions of leadership, with focus on how the role of the leader and the people being led have shifted over time; (2) the evolution of the Philippine local government and the role of local leaders; and (3) leadership actions of a local leader (Municipal Mayor). This study concludes that despite numerous articles, biographies, and case studies written about leadership and local leadership, there is still a dearth of key materials focusing on the analysis of leadership actions, leadership processes, as well as leadership dynamics. The findings of the study tend to concur with the observations that focus on political leaders are on the illustrative side rather than the analytical category. Analytical studies are crucial as they may provide key inputs on the development of a responsive leadership framework that will help strengthen leadership at the local levels.