Final Exam on Introduction to the

Theory and Practice of Public

Administration and Governance
SUBMITTED BY:
JUSTIN CEASAR T. ESPERON
MPAG II
SUBMITTED TO:
DR. FRANCISCO JUBELAG JR. VIII
PROFESSOR
 1. Can public administration exist without governance? Can good governance exist
without politics? Can public administration exist without politics? What is the role of
politicians in public administration?

Answer:

Can public administration exist without governance? I firmly believe that governance and
public administration are closely related, therefore public administration can’t exist without
governance. Public administration functions under a framework that is provided by governance,
which gives its actions direction, accountability, and legitimacy. It is very difficult to imagine that
public administration can function without governance.

Can good governance exist without politics? Yes, good governance can exist without politics,
as governance is shaped by actors of each sector that takes decisions at local and national level and
implements those decisions for human welfare, developments in communities, academics,
businesses, the unorganized sector, and self-promoted enterprises. Governance is an outcome and
sum total of what and how different pillars of the state perform and function. The distinguishing
feature of governance include how actively involved and participative citizens are. Additionally,
good governance is generally characterized by accessibility, accountability, predictability,
transparency and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of
minorities are considered and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision
making. However, politics often plays a very significant role in shaping good governance,
especially in a democratic and republican system like the Philippines where elected officials are
accountable to the people. Politics in the Philippines has traditionally been dominated by clans and
political bosses and patronage and is characterized by laws makers that make decisions based on
fiscal incentives rather that beliefs and voters that make choices based on personality rather than
reasoned policies.

Can public administration exist without politics? Since the rise of public administration as an
academic field, scholars have sought to understand the role of politics in public administration.
The relationship between politics and administration is inherently complex because elected
officials or politicians create laws through the legislative process. Additionally, it is the
responsibility of administrative personnel working for government agencies to carry out the
decisions made by elected officials. While both parties bear some of the blame for passing
legislation, their actions are also influenced by different factors. Regarding the degree to which
politics should (or is) involved in public management, scholars' opinions also differ. Furthermore,
I firmly believe that public administration cannot exist without politics because for me politics is
the one who decides, and public administration does. Also, in doing public administration there is
an involvement of politics, as it operates with a political framework and implement policies and
programs of the government that was also set by the government officials.

What is the role of politicians in public administration? Politicians will fulfill their oversight
responsibilities to guarantee that public administration is carried out impartially and neutrally as
they are the ones with the authority to enact laws and because they represent the people. In
addition, politicians will take on the responsibility for formulating, coordinating, and deciding
upon policies. In keeping with the needs of the public grasped during the course of their duties.
 2. Reflecting on your own definition of public administration, discuss how you see
public administration under the leadership of PBBM. You may use the facts
mentioned in the latest SONA and Philippine Development Plan.

Answer:

Woodrow Wilson stated that public administration is the detailed and systematic application of
law. Every application of law is an act of administration. Public Administration under President
BongBong Marcos is focused on the economy, he vowed to create a fiscal management tax
administration reform that will increase revenue collection. He also said that expenditure will be
realigned, and eco-zones will be fully supported. He said the country’s tax system will be adjusted
in order to catch up with digital economy. As stated also in the Philippine Development Plan for
the year 2023 – 2028, Marcos wanted that by 2024, the Philippines shall be a prosperous,
predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor. Our peoples will enjoy long and healthy
lives, are smart and innovative, and will live in a high-trust society.” It is also stated in the PDP
that Filipinos aspire to have a life that is strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure (matatag,
maginhawa, at panatag). There are several plans for Economic and Social Transformation, first is
maintaining robust macroeconomic fundamentals, which fosters consumer and investor
confidence, is key to achieving rapid economic recovery and preventing socioeconomic scarring.
Therefore, the Plan must include strategies that would ensure macroeconomic stability and sound
fiscal management to keep consumer and investor confidence in the economy high. Second, we
must learn that everything and everyone are interconnected, and that there are advantages to having
strong interlinkages. The Plan must include strategies to strengthen these interlinkages and make
them robust. Third, there are limits to government resources and capabilities; hence, government
needs to engage meaningfully with various sectors to deliver the needed interventions. The Plan
here is to include strategies to enhance collaboration with local government units and partnerships
with the private sector and civil society. Lastly, though recovery has started, we need to fast-track
investments in early warning systems, efficient social protection programs, effective resilience-
building strategies, research and development, technology–particularly digital technology–and
innovation. He also mentioned that Investments in public infrastructure and in the capacity of our
people – through food, education, health, jobs, and social protection – remain our top priority.

Additionally, he also mentioned about the multipronged efforts on the agriculture sector. He
highlighted the government’s efforts to boast local agricultural production through consolidation,
modernization, mechanization, and improvement of value chains. Some of these efforts are
improving access to food through KADIWA program that was launched by President Bongbong
Marcos. Enhancing production by amending the Fisheries Code to strengthen science-based
analysis of fishing areas, accelerating cooperative formation, continuing agrarian reform,
expanding knowledge and use of new agri-tech. Expanding agricultural infrastructure where he
talked about additional 600 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, better access to irrigation,
fabrication labs. He also mentioned about boosting water security, connecting farmers, Amending
the Cooperative Code, providing relief to distressed farmers, Strengthening the biosecurity levels
of domestic animals, and enacting the new Agrarian Emancipation Act that that effectively erased
the debt borne by more than 600,000 farmers amounting PHP57.55 billion. Infrastructure projects
is also his focused on his administration, this infrastructure projects named Build Better More
program with 194 projects in total and have a budget of 8.3-trillion peso. The flagship projects of
this program are physical connectivity, water resources, agriculture, health, digital connectivity,
and energy. Physical connectivity infrastructure such as roads, bridges, seaports, airports, and mass
transport have the biggest budget among other projects with 83%.

To sum up, President Bongbong Marcos's ten-point program, which offers a thorough strategy for
economic recovery, healthcare, education, and food security, embodies the values of public
administration and good government. The agenda's consistent dedication to accountability,
efficiency, transparency, and public-private partnership emphasizes how important good
governance is to attain long-term progress and prosperity for all Filipinos.

3. Discuss the concept of bureaucracy and its characteristics as applied in your

respective offices. What are the challenges you encountered in your office relative to
bureaucracy. How will you mitigate the negative connotation of bureaucracy.

Answer:

The concept of bureaucracy is fairly old, it was first used during the Han dynasty in China. But
the modern interpretation of the idea dates back to 18th century France. The term bureaucracy is
a hybrid word whose roots go back to French and Greek. It's made up of the French word bureau,
which means desk or office, and the Greek term kratein, which means to rule. If the two words
together combine it means ruling by or from a desk or office. The word was first officially in
France used after the French Revolution. From there, the word and concept spread throughout
the rest of the world.

In 19th-century German sociologist Max Weber was one of the first scholars to use the term and
expand its influence. He described the concept of bureaucracy in a positive sense and considered
the ideal bureaucracy to be both efficient and rational. He believed that bureaucracy clearly
defined the roles of the individuals involved and helped narrow the focus of administrative goals.
He also believes that bureaucracy was key to capitalism since it allowed organizations to persist
even as individuals come and go.

Duplication is the bureaucracy-related issue that I typically encountered in my office. In an

organization, duplication typically refers to circumstances when something is present in several
copies or instances. It occurs when multiple people or entities work together on a project or make
choices without clearly coordinating with one another. Example of Duplication is when one
member of the team already completed the task and other member of the team also doing the
similar task that is already done. This is usually happening when one member of the team didn’t
endorse that he or she is already done with one task. Because duplication develop well particularly
in organization with silos, successfully overcoming duplication requires a good and proper
communication to the team or organization. It also requires a good understanding procedure and
knowing to where to go for information when there is a conflicting data, in that way it can help to
avoid duplication of task.
 4. If you happen to be the Mayor of your LGU, how would you handle the Pandemic
Situation by applying the following theories of organization:

A. Structural Function Theory

B. Human Relations Theory

C. The Scalar Principle Line and Staff Organizations

Answer:

• Structural Function Theory

In late December 2019, people in Wuhan, China began to get sick with a previously unknown
pneumonia, making the beginning of the new infectious disease, later identified as a new type of
coronavirus and later named as SARS-CoV-2. The disease the virus cause was named coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO declared the COVID-
19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020, and a
pandemic on March 11,2020.

Local Government Units (LGUs) play an important role in our fight against COVID-19. During
these challenging times, LGUs need to arm themselves with one of our most powerful weapons
against COVID-19: Information. If I was the mayor of my city I will strictly implement the
following precautions using the structural-functional theory in every department of my city to
avoid the spread out of the virus, these precautions are; closing the border while the virus is not
totally spread-out, early implementation of lockdowns, establishment of quarantine facilities,
effective communication to the public about COVID-19, and monitoring efforts were the defining
factors that helped my city curtail the harm of COVID-19. If these policies are to be standardized
and used by every department in my city, it would help my city or any country’s preparedness for
the pandemic and future health emergencies. Also, I’ll be on top in disseminating activities on
every department in the city, one of the examples is the City Health Office, this office must be
responsible on doing and giving free vaccination to people with or without covid. Also, they are
responsible for contract tracing for possible person who have been exposed to someone who have
been infected with the covid-19 virus. Other departments like Philippine National Police (PNP) in
every LGU should assist the mayor in the strict enforcement of all directives form the city mayor
like wearing of face masks, maintenance of social distancing protocols, strict implementation of
laws in borders and lastly the strict implementation of curfew hours in the city.
 • Human Relation Theory

If I was the mayor of my LGU, I’ll do my best to make my people feel that they are valuable
especially during the pandemic were most of the people is traumatize by the pandemic. I’ll make
sure that they are heard, and all their needs are taking care of by the LGU. Also, I will follow these
three key elements that can help as the leader of the community. The first element is the Key work
groups or teams, the team here is also considered as the citizens and citizens are the most important
aspects of human relation movement for, they are the focus of this theory. Second element is
upward communication is the necessity of my administration because it allows every citizen to
offer feedback and communication to my office. This allows every citizen to be vocal and to be
valuable to every decision making that the mayor’s office doing. Lastly the third element revolves
around providing good leadership through excellent communication and decision-making, citizen
will feel motivated to follow any rules and regulations from the city mayor.

• Scalar Principle of Organization

According to Bruno Dyck, the scalar principle is a key element of management, underscores the
importance of a clear chain of command and well-defined levels of authority within an
organization. If I was the mayor my proposal is to create an organized, hierarchical structure inside
the city government, outlining the duties and tasks of different divisions. This methodical approach
would enable to have a coordinated response to the pandemic.

Using the ideas of staff and line organizations, I would create a different line between those
functions that actively contribute to pandemic response, as well as professional roles that offer
specific knowledge and assistance. For example, emergency management organizations and the
health department might make up the line functions, which oversee providing healthcare and
emergency response. On the other hand, staff functions would include experts with proficiency in
fields including communications, logistics, and data analysis, providing specific assistance for the
line operations.

In conclusion, application of the scalar principle and concepts, will help to organize the pandemic
response of the city. would include a well-defined line of command and distinct tasks for those
directly participants in the reaction as well as those offering specialist assistance. This method
guarantees a coordinated and successful pandemic response.
 5. If you happen to be the President of the Republic of the Philippines, how would you
apply the following principles: Hierarchy, Unity of Command, Span of Control,
Delegation, Coordination, Communication.

Answer:

As President, I will devote my whole six-year term to transform Philippine governance and
Philippine society into an inclusive, fair, and shared economy. Also, by using the following
management principles which are Hierarchy, Unity of Command, Span of Control, Delegation,
Coordination and Communication.

A. Hierarchy – For the government to have a well-defined organizational structure, the

hierarchy concept would be essential. A clearly defined chain of command established by
a well-organized hierarchy will facilitate more efficient decision-making and increased
accountability.

B. Unity of Command - I would strictly uphold the idea of unity of command, ensuring that
every department or agency of government had a single point of contact in terms of
liability. This strategy would therefore remove misunderstanding, leaving no uncertainty
on who bears responsibility for deeds and choices.

C. Span of Control – As a president, I would carefully balance centralization and

decentralization to preserve an effective span of control. Because it would avoid
overburdening government employees and agencies with many direct reports, it would
eventually lead to more effective management and supervision.

D. Delegation - One of the most important ways to empower competent people in the
administration would be through delegation. Giving capable officials the authority and
responsibility, they deserve would enable them to make judgments within their areas of
specialization. It would be crucial to create clear rules and expectations for accountability
during the delegating process.

E. Coordination - Encouraging good coordination between government departments is vital

to prevent duplication of efforts and guarantee optimal resource usage. Establishing
systems to encourage interagency collaboration and communication is something I would
do, especially in situations where a multi-sectoral strategy is required.

F. Communication - Setting clear and honest communication as a top priority would be

essential. I would see to it that the public and other government entities have unfettered
access to information. Sustaining trust and accountability would need constant updates,
briefings, and proactive involvement with the public and media.
 6. If you happen to be a lawmaker, what law will you sponsor to enhance the
implementation of Public Administration applying the concepts and theories you have
learned in our class?

Answer:

If I were a legislator in the Philippines, I would propose a bill that would enhance the way public
administration is implemented, putting a special focus on accountability, ethics, and transparency.
This suggested law would be based on the ideas and theories that we have covered in class, with
particular attention to Republic Act No. 6713 popularly known as act establishing, “A Code of
Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.” The proposed amendment
would aim to emphasize the importance of moral conduct, proficient handling of conflicts of
interest, and accountability of public officials. In order to accomplish this, the legislation would
strengthen the framework established by Republic Act No. 6713. It would also impose stricter
guidelines for avoiding conflicts of interest, introduce comprehensive ethics training programs for
public officials and employees, and implement more rigorous mechanisms for the declaration of
assets and liabilities.

As a result, this proposed law easily conforms to the ethical, accountable, and good governance
concepts that we have studied in class. Its ultimate objective is to improve public administration
practices, which will eventually lead to increased public confidence in governmental institutions
and the people who work there.

References:

Magno, F. A., & Teehankee, J. C. (2022b). Pandemic Politics in the Philippines: An Introduction

from the Special Issue Editors. Philippine Political Science Journal, 43(2), 107–122.

https://doi.org/10.1163/2165025x-12340047

Max Weber Bureaucracy Theory: Concept, Principles, and Forms. (2019, November 22). Toppr-

guides. https://www.toppr.com/guides/fundamentals-of-economics-and-

management/evolution-of-management-thought/bureaucratic-theory-by-max-weber/

Negros Occidental Provincial Government. (2023, July 17). Kadiwa ng Pangulo launching at

FTMON | Negros Occidental Provincial Government. Negros Occidental Provincial

Government | Negros Occidental Is a Province in Western Visayas Region of the

 Philippines. It Occupies the North-western Half of Negros Island. https://www.negros-

occ.gov.ph/news/kadiwa-ng-pangulo-launching-at-ftmon/

PricewaterhouseCoopers. (n.d.-b). SONA 2023. PwC.

https://www.pwc.com/ph/en/publications/pwc-publications/2023/sona-2023.html

R.A. 6713. (n.d.). https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1989/ra_6713_1989.html