An assessment of the status, roles and functions, and human resource development needs of Philippine provincial and city government administrators in support of good local governance

• Main Authors: Torneo, Ador R., Abaya, Monica Anne
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2015
• Subjects: Local government—Philippines; Personnel management; Political Science; Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/13657
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study documents the important roles performed by city and provincial administrators in local governance comparing those prescribed by policy and observed in practice, identifies essential competencies and attributes they need to be equipped with, and suggests ways by which these needs can be addressed through human resource and organizational development. In practice, city and provincial administrators perform functions that are essential to local government but could go beyond those specifically outlined in Sub- sections 1 to 4 of Article X of the Local Government Code of 1991. Examples are direct supervision of department heads, deciding on budgets and disbursement of funds, and formulating policies and programs for the local government unit. These are technically powers of the local chief executive but in practice are often delegated to administrators by virtue of Sub-section 5, Article X of RA 7160 which states that administrators "exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance." The study concludes that administrators need to be management professionals equipped with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and attributes in order to perform their jobs effectively and contribute to good governance. Essential knowledge includes: RA 7160 and other policies affecting local governments, and the roles, functions, and processes of local government branches and departments. Essential skills include: management, communication, planning and finance, time and stress management, management of change, human resource and organizational development, and political skills. Desirable attributes include: leadership, adaptability, integrity, broad perspective, intellectual and emotional competence, spirituality, and the ability to maintain the trust of the local chief executive. The study recommends that these competencies be developed through preparatory capacity building programs for newly appointed administrators and continuing education programs for continuing local government administrators. Development of these programs can be supported by the Philippines Australia Human Resource and Organisational Development Facility (PAHRODF), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and other education and training organizations.