GROUP 3

CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC PERSONNEL

ADMINISTRATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED:

1. Introduction
2. Characteristics of Public Personnel Administration in the
Philippines
3. Public Personnel Administration
4. Evolving an Efficient Public Personnel System

Topics 1 & 2 : Mechellie C. Doromal

Topics 3 & 4 : Rolando Magbanua Jr.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION
IN THE PHILIPPINES
(Topics 1 & 2)
I. INTRODUCTION

The Philippines, as a democratic nation, has public personnel administration as a

democratic institution. This is evident in the practice of check and balance among the
three branches of the government.

Though the sovereign powers of the state emanate from the people, the 1987
Philippines Constitution institutionalized the executive, legislative and the judicial
branches of the government. This power apportionment is the fundamentals of public
administration in the Philippines, wherein the principle of good governance is practiced
and observed.

II. CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION IN THE

PHILIPPINES

1. ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT

Public or government officials and employees must at all times be accountable to

the people. Thus, they should serve the public with utmost responsibility and
integrity. They should likewise practice transparency in all forms of government
transactions. For whatever they do, they must bear in mind that public office is a
public trust.

2. DECENTRALIZED

This invokes the concept of participation in decision-making, democracy, equality

and liberty from higher authority, the restructuring or reorganization of authority
so that there is a system of co-responsibility between the central, regional and
local units.

One basic example in the Philippines is the legislation provided in the Local
Government Code of 1991 which gave the local government units responsibility
like basic health services, public works, agriculture, social welfare and natural
resources to be provided to the local people.

3. INSTRUMENTAL IN ENSURING FAIR AND LEGITIMATE ELECTIONS

There is election to ensure the legitimacy of the political leadership. Right to

suffrage is one of the basic rights of every Filipino which is embodied in the 1987
Philippine Constitution. Being in the public office in-charge of the elections like
the COMELEC and other partner agencies, it is imperative that a fair and
legitimate election should ensue. For election is the representational
requirements guaranteeing a democratic state.

4. BASED ON THE SYSTEM OF CHECK AND BALANCE AMONG THE THREE

BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT

This is the principle of the separation of powers as likewise embodied in the 1987
Philippine Constitution. This provides moderation in the exercise of government
authority, to impede each branch of the government from trespassing and
seizing power vested in each one of them. And to ensure that each of the
branches are functioning according to their mandate and purpose.

5. PROTECT THE RIGHT OF MINORITIES AND DISADVANTAGED GROUP

Under the human rights law, priority should be accorded to ensure that the most
disadvantaged and marginalized groups or the minorities are protected by social
security guarantees, without discrimination. These groups should have equal
access to basic services and to all resources provided to and enjoyed by all the
citizen of the entire nation.

6. HAS ADEQUATE MANAGEMENT CAPACITY TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Access to justice is the basic principle in the rule of law for without it people are
unable to have their voice heard, exercise their rights, challenge discrimination
and hold people responsible for any act of felony or offences violating their
freedom, their right to life and properties or their basic rights in general.

In the Philippines, there is the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) to ensure that each
and every Filipino who cannot afford or don’t have the financial capacity to pay
for private lawyer has someone to represent or to fight for them in courts.
Likewise, the judiciary ensures that each and every citizen has access to legal
institutions.

7. PROTECT PUBLIC GOODS

Public goods include but not limited to law enforcement, national defense, sewer
system, public parks etc. These are the kinds of goods that do not diminish or
their supplies dwindle as people consume them.

Government officials and employees protect these goods to ensure effective

public service.

8. PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR THE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND

PRIVATE SECTOR

Since the Philippines is a free nation, the government allows the public and the
private sector to exercise press freedom, freedom of expression, the right to
 peacefully assemble and petition each and every agency of the government to
redress their grievances. It is already a common practice among government
agencies to hold dialogues or consultation with the civil society groups to address
issues of national concern or that of the community.

9. UTILIZES INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE

ACTIVE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

Section 3, Article 7 of the Bill of Rights provides that “the right of the people to
information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official
records, and to documents and papers pertaining to officials acts, transactions,
or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy
development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be
provided by law. ”

In today’s technology, it is already easy to lodge complaint against a government

institutions, officials or employees. Hence, every government agencies or
institutions had already established their quick response team to address any
arising issues thereon.

10. PROMOTES AND STRENGTHENS PARTNERSHIP

This is evident in the formation of various political parties, interest groups and
public or non-government organizations which the government allows to actively
participate in any government programs or projects, elections and capability
building.

Prepared by : MECHELLIE C. DOROMAL