Glossary — Philippine LGU regulatory terms

Plain-English definitions of every Philippine local-government regulatory term Nova Gov touches. Each term has its own page with full schema, FAQs, and how Nova Gov handles it.

Land use + planning

Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991)

Also: RA 7160 · Local Government Code · LGC · CLUP legal basis

The statute that empowers Philippine cities and municipalities to adopt Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) and enact zoning ordinances. Section 20 makes the CLUP the primary and dominant basis for the future use of land resources; Sections 447, 458, and 468 require the sanggunian to adopt the CLUP and an integrated zoning ordinance. Executive Order No. 72 (s. 1993) and DHSUD guidelines govern preparation and review — a 12-year planning period with a mandatory 6th-year midterm review.

Tagalog: /tl/ra-7160

Governance + assessment

Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG)

Also: DILG SGLG · SGLG Program

Annual performance assessment of Philippine LGUs by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. LGUs scored on core areas (financial admin, disaster prep, social protection) and essential areas. Passing unlocks the Performance Challenge Fund.

Tagalog: /tl/sglg

Republic Act 12254 (E-Governance Act)

Also: RA 12254 · E-Governance Act

Philippine law signed September 5, 2025 and led by the DICT, institutionalizing the government's transition to e-governance. Section 9 requires every LGU to operate its own digital citizen-service portal or adopt DICT's eLGU system within one year of effectivity. It has no land-use or CLUP content.

Tagalog: /tl/ra-12254

Coming soon

CLUP — Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Long-term spatial plan of a Philippine city or municipality. Basis for the Zoning Ordinance. Dedicated page in queue.

DHSUD — Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development

National department responsible for housing, human settlement, and urban land use. Primary technical reviewer for CLUP submissions under RA 7160 and Executive Order No. 72.

DILG — Department of the Interior and Local Government

National department overseeing local government units. Administers SGLG and Performance Challenge Fund.

4Ps — Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

DSWD conditional cash transfer program. Nova citizen app includes eligibility screener.