The once vertical and hierarchical relationship
between central and local governments is beginning to
portray more like symmetrical relationships with localities
gaining ground on the central government. Although
some still argue that the central government departments
still reign over local municipalities by controlling block
grants and subsidies despite the enactment of the Local
Autonomy Act in the early 1990s, localities have developed
into legitimate policy partners through learning
process. In addition, local municipalities have learned to
cooperate with central departments and other localities,
and came up with coherent strategies to develop interrelationships,
trust, and collaboration.