The Philippine

Administration System:
Its Components and Power
Base
By: John Vincent Q. Ortiz
PA 202- The Philippine Administrative System
Definition of PAS
 A network of public organization with specific goals,
policies, structures, resources, and programs.
 Processes of and interaction between and among these
public organization.
 Organizations constituted to implement, help formulate,
monitor, or assess public policies.
 Covers relationship with immediate public-in-contact.
 Reaction to the greater socio-politico and environment.
COMPONENTS OF PAS
1. PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS
 Public Organizations are the basic block of this system.
 Each has their respective goals, policies, structures, resources, and
processes.
 Created by law that defines their purpose, core structure, and how
their operations are to be funded by public funds.
 POs have their self-contained sub-system themselves.
 PAS refers to the executive branch which includes the following:
 local government units
 government owned and controlled corporations
 chartered institutions such as SUCs
2. INTERNAL PROCESSES
AND INTERACTIVE EFFORTS
 Refers to the individual or institutional coordination or sharing of
information and other resources in the provision of services.
 Perform their public functions through defined rules and procedures.
 These procedures are internal to the organization designed as the best
way of providing services that the organization must deliver.
 There are also procedures that govern POs working relationships with
other government offices.
 Example: DENR to conduct an environmental assessment study; he will
have to coordinate with the following: Local officials such as the
Barangay Captain or Municipal Mayor; he may also have to consult with
the agriculture officer, local health officials, representatives of the
DILG, FAR.
3. IMPLEMENTING, HELP
FORMULATION, AND ASSESSING
PUBLIC POLICIES
 Responsible for implementing public policies formulated
jointly by the Legislative and the executive branches.
 PAS’ may also assist in policy formulation as they may
provide insights in order to revise and improve
laws/policies.
 Responsible for monitoring and assessing public policies
thus, they are required to submit an annual report on its
activities.
4. INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS,
ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES
AS ITS PUBLIC/ CLIENTLE
 PAS serves the public and it should see it as a crucial part of
the system.
 Types of publics:
 Individuals
 Groups
 Private Organizations
 Communities
 Other Countries (e.g. Board of Investment)
 Other public organizations (e.g.COA, DBM)
5. THE GREATER SOCIO-
POLITICO AND ECONOMIC
ENVIRONMENT
 This environment is the source of demands and pressures on
the state for services, information, or enforcement of
existing laws.
 Could also be the source of support for certain policies that
are viewed as being generally beneficial to the public.
 PAS can generate support or opposition from this
environment.
SOURCES OF POWER
1.PAS as instrument of the state
 Derives its power from being the arm of the state; it is the
machinery through which the functions of the government
are exercised legitimately
 It is supported by enabling policies which confer authority
on its actions.
 It is through public bureaucracy that the President can
exercise its power of eminent domain.
2.PAS as enforcer or Implementer
of Public Policy
 Enforces the laws and implements public policies set by the executive and
legislative.
 PAS has the discretion as to how it carries out/interprets policies and enforces the
law since the legislature cannot anticipate all the conditions under which certain
laws are to be enforced or implemented.
 Range of discretion may sometimes lead PAS to unduly favor those who are able to
wield influence while putting to disadvantage those who have less and are also
relatively less able to deal with ways of bureaucracy.
 Range of discretion is where the power of PAS stems from as an enforcer or
implementer.
 The power is enhanced considerably given that in developing countries demand for
public services is always greater than the capacity of the government to provide
for these services.
3.PAS as Service Delivery System
 As a major service delivery system, it utilizes its authority, structure, and resources
to produce specific services that it extends to its public in contact.
 Example:
 Public school system
 Public health system
 Post office

 For some instances, the services of the government may also be available in the
market for a higher cost.
 However, since not all Filipinos can afford to send their children to private schools
or hospitals, public provision of these services is crucial.
 The public depend on PAS for basic services as they cannot afford the high costs of
these services elsewhere, thus PAS wields power over these clienteles.
 When demand for public services is greater than the supply, the power of PAS
increases as it serves as the gatekeeper that may ultimately determine who gets
what kind of service
4.PAS as Participant in the Policy
Formulation
 Since it is the bureaucracy that actually enforces or
implements the law, policymakers rely on their technical
expertise.
 The knowledge that it has directly acquired as implementer
and its expertise in highly technical areas are the primary
reasons why the PAS’ advice is usually sought in legislation.
 PAS exerts influence on the policy making process by
providing significant inputs which policy makers must
consider.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OF PAS
 Another source of power is the technical expertise that it has amassed over time.
 Examples:
 Expertise on the operations of a nuclear power plant
 Environmental impact assessment for a new shopping mall
 Adoption of a Filipino child by foreigners
 Establishing a patent for a new product

 They are also backed by the systematic process of documenting institutional

decisions
 Its capacity to generate, use, and control technical information which are inputs in
the provision of services or in the production of more information is another source
of PAS.
 The power is increased when the public has no ready access information and is
made independent on the PAS.
Nationwide Presence of PAS
 PAS’ vast network of reaching almost all villages nationwide
is another source of power.
 It has an expansive reach through which it can mobilize
support for its program from all over the country
Utilizing PAS Power
Article II, Section 1 of the 1987 constitution states that:

“The Philippines is a democratic and republic state. Sovereignty

resides in the people and all government authority emanates from
them.”
Sources of Power How It is to be Utilized

1. PAS as instrument of the state 1. PAS to consciously acknowledge the

people as the source and end of
state power; use power with
accountability; Must be pro-equity.
2. PAS as Enforcer and Implementer of 2. PAS must Enforce the Law Fairly
Public Policy and Justly; must implement public
policies efficiently.
3. PAS must institutionalize access to
3. PAS as a Service Delivery System its service delivery system; it must
be efficient and service oriented.
Sources of Power How It is to be Utilized

4. PAS as Participant in the Policy PAS must be consultative and

Formulation Process participatory.

5. PAS Technical Expertise PAS uses local language and keeps

administrative procedures as simple as
possible.

6.PAS Extensive and Nationwide PAS must be decentralized and

Services transparent in its operations.
Desirable Characteristics of the Philippine
Administrative System
1. The PAS is a just and fair law enforcement body if it treats everyone in the same
way, regardless of profession, position, income, and status.
2. The PAS is participatory and consultative when, as far as practicable, it listens to
and works with the people in the local language and keeps its procedures simple.
3. The PAS is accessible if it identifies and minimizes access problems that stem from
physical distance, administrative requirements, and financial costs that the clients
or the public must bear in getting to or in availing themselves of services.
4. The PAS favors decentralization if it recognizes the value of decisions made at
levels closest to those who are affected by the decision.
5.  The PAS is efficient if it provides more and quality service for the same or less
cost to the people.
6. The PAS is accountable for the use of all its power if it explains and makes regular
reports to the public and political leaders as to how it has used the authority,
resources, and information placed at its disposal to carry out public policies.
7. Finally, the PAS promotes the cause of equity if it recognizes the needs of the
disadvantaged in Philippine society and looks into how its programs can provide
them with alternatives when private services are beyond their means.
 Desirable Characteristics Suggested Assessment Criteria

1. Just and Fair Enforcement of Law Support for violators who may not have ac- cess
to lawyers; Enough information to clients of their
rights and responsibilities

2. Participatory and Consultative Uses local language and keeps procedures

simple.

3.Accessible Provisions of shuttle/ferry services

   
4. Decentralized Administrative decisions made at the levels
closest to those affected by the decisions

5. Efficient and Service-Oriented Provides more and quality service for same or
less cost to clients; reaches out to meet clients’
needs and not expect clients to adjust to orga-
nization

6. Accountable Publication of quarterly reports

7. Pro-Equity Ensures that poorer clients are not unduly dis-

advantage by procedures; favors programs which
allow cross-subsidy from those who have more to
support those who have less.
THANK YOU!!!