HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

1. HISTORICAL
DEVELOPMENT OF
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

2. SUBTOPIC:
THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
IN THE PHILIPPINES AND
OTHER COUNTRIES

3. Objective: Compare and contrast
the development of Public
Administration in the Philippines
and other countries.

4. Public administration serves as the fundamental cornerstone
of effective governance worldwide. This presentation
embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the Philippines'
unique journey in public administration, tracing its path from
colonial influences to its contemporary structures. We will
compare this evolution with significant global administrative
reforms, such as New Public Management (NPM) and New
Public Governance (NPG), highlighting key milestones and
outlining future directions for a more responsive and efficient
public sector.

5. Philippines Public
Administration:
Early Foundations
(Pre-Colonial to
Spanish Era)

6. Pre-Colonial (Pre-1565)
Governance was largely
decentralized, centered
around the "Barangay" units
under the leadership of a
Datu. Laws were informal,
based on tradition and
communal consensus,
emphasizing close-knit
community decision-making
and direct leadership.

7. Spanish Colonial (1565-1898)
The arrival of the Spanish
introduced a highly centralized
bureaucracy. The Governor-
General served as the supreme
authority, supported by institutions
like the Royal Audencia, which
managed judicial and
administrative affairs, imposing a
top-down structure

8. Encomienda System
This system granted Spanish
conquistadors control over
specific territories and their
inhabitants, primarily for tribute
and labor collection. It
represented a form of indirect
rule, with limited development
of a formal, merit-based civil
service, focusing instead on
resource extraction.

9. Principalia Class
A local elite emerged, serving as crucial
intermediaries between the Spanish
colonial rulers and the indigenous
population. They facilitated tax
collection and local administration,
often consolidating their own power
and influence within the new
administrative framework.

10. Philippine Public
Administration:
American Influence & Post-
War Reforms (1898-Mid
20th Century)

11. American Colonial (1898-1946)
The American administration
introduced a revolutionary
concept: a merit-based civil service
in 1900. This marked a significant
departure from the patronage-
laden Spanish system, aiming for
professionalism and impartiality in
public service.

12. Bureau of Civil Service (1900)
Established as the first of its kind
in Asia, this bureau was
instrumental in professionalizing
the public sector. It implemented
competitive examinations and
established standards for public
employment, laying the
groundwork for a modern
bureaucracy.

13. UP Institute of
Public Administration (1952)
Now known as the National
College of Public Administration
and Governance (NCPAG), its
founding was crucial for capacity
building after World War II. It
became a hub for training public
servants and conducting research
on governance.

14. Reorganization Act of 1954
This landmark act aimed to streamline the
executive branch of government. It sought
to enhance efficiency, eliminate
redundancy, and improve the delivery of
public services through a systematic
overhaul of administrative structures.

15. Philippine Public
Administration:
Contemporary Landscape &
Reforms (Late 20th Century
to Present)

16. Local Government
Code of 1991 (R.A.
7160)
This pivotal law initiated
massive decentralization,
devolving significant powers and
responsibilities for service
delivery from the national
government to local government
units, fostering greater local
autonomy and responsiveness.

17. Anti-Red Tape
Act (ARTA)
2007/2018
Designed to combat
bureaucratic inefficiency,
ARTA mandated streamlined
government transactions,
setting a 3-day target for
processing permits and
licenses, aiming to reduce
corruption and improve
service delivery for citizens
and businesses.

18. Digital Transformation
The Philippines has embraced digital
governance with initiatives like the
PhilSys National ID (launched 2020)
and the eGov PH app (2023), aiming
to enhance accessibility, transparency,
and efficiency of public services
through technology.

19. Global Perspectives:
Post-New Public
Management Trends
(Late 1990s-Present)

20. New Public Governance (NPG)
Moving beyond the market-driven focus of
New Public Management, NPG emphasizes
collaboration, networks, and active citizen
engagement in policy-making and service
delivery. It recognizes the complex,
interconnected nature of modern
governance challenges, requiring multi-
stakeholder approaches.

21. Public Value Creation
This concept extends the focus beyond mere
efficiency to concentrate on the societal
outcomes and collective benefits generated
by public services. It challenges administrators
to think about what genuinely adds value to
citizens' lives, promoting a more holistic view
of public purpose.

23. Digital Governance
The pervasive influence of digital
technologies has ushered in an era of e-
government services and data-driven
policy-making. This trend leverages
technology to enhance transparency,
accessibility, and efficiency in public
administration.

25. Comparative Analysis:
Philippines vs. Global
Administrative Trends

26. Similarities in Reform
Adoption
Both the Philippines and global administrative
trends show a clear adoption of NPM principles,
such as a focus on performance metrics, the
implementation of citizen charters to enhance
accountability, and a growing emphasis on e-
governance for service delivery. These
commonalities reflect a shared pursuit of
efficiency and responsiveness.

27. Hybrid Reforms
In practice, NPM principles in the Philippines
are often selectively applied and significantly
adapted to the local context. This results in a
hybrid reform approach, where international
best practices are integrated but modified to fit
the existing institutional frameworks and socio-
political realities.

28. Divergences: Colonial &
Political Legacy
However, Philippine PA is distinctly shaped by
its enduring colonial legacy and unique political
dynamics. Unlike many Western states, its
administrative culture often grapples with
deep-seated patronage networks and
bureaucratic inertia inherited from past eras,
presenting unique challenges.

29. Decentralization (1991 LGC)
The Local Government Code of 1991 stands out
as a uniquely profound reform. Its
comprehensive devolution of powers to local
government units is far more extensive than
many centralized states have undertaken,
making it a significant model for local
autonomy globally.

30. Philippines vs United States
The Philippines and the U.S. both have presidential systems and a
three-branch government structure, but the U.S. shows stronger
institutional checks and balances. The U.S. public administration is
more decentralized and empowers local governments, while the
Philippines still struggles with over-centralization and bureaucratic red
tape. While both nations value transparency and accountability,
corruption remains a major challenge in the Philippines. The U.S. uses
data-driven, performance-based management widely, whereas the
Philippines is still transitioning toward modern governance tools. Citizen
participation is encouraged in both, but the U.S. has more established
platforms and a culture of civic engagement.

31. Philippines vs Japan
Japan's public administration is centralized and disciplined, with a
culture of efficiency and long-term planning, in contrast to the
Philippines’ more fragmented and politically influenced bureaucracy.
Japanese civil servants are highly professional and apolitical, while
political patronage and "palakasan" (influence) often affect
appointments in the Philippines. Both countries emphasize hierarchical
systems, but Japan strictly follows merit-based recruitment and
promotion. The Philippines has ongoing reform efforts, while Japan
already benefits from decades of administrative stability and
modernization. Corruption is rare and highly condemned in Japan,
while it remains a persistent issue in Philippine governance.

32. Philippines vs Germany
Germany’s federal system allows its regions (Länder) more power and
administrative autonomy than the Philippine local government units
under a unitary system. The German bureaucracy is highly
institutionalized, guided by the rule of law and efficiency, whereas the
Philippine bureaucracy faces challenges in consistency, implementation,
and politicization. Germany integrates performance evaluation and
technology effectively in governance, while the Philippines is catching
up in digital public service delivery. While both countries support social
welfare, Germany allocates more consistent resources and planning to
sustain it. Corruption and weak enforcement mechanisms in the
Philippines contrast with Germany's strict regulatory culture.

33. Philippines vs United Kingd
The UK has a parliamentary system where the executive is directly
accountable to the legislature, while the Philippines uses a presidential
model with more separation of powers. The UK’s civil service is
politically neutral and continues to function efficiently across changes in
leadership; in contrast, the Philippine bureaucracy is more vulnerable
to political influence. The UK has embraced New Public Management
reforms more comprehensively, focusing on results, efficiency, and
privatization. Public sector accountability is stricter in the UK,
supported by watchdog agencies and civic pressure. Both countries
promote citizen service, but the UK has more institutional mechanisms
and resources to fulfill this mandate.

34. Philippines vs Canada
Canada’s public administration is known for inclusivity, professionalism,
and bilingual service delivery, while the Philippines continues to face
inequality in access and efficiency of public services. Canada’s federal
structure gives provinces significant control, unlike the Philippines’ more
centralized governance despite decentralization laws like the Local
Government Code. While both countries aim for responsive governance,
Canada uses technology and citizen feedback more effectively in
policymaking. Canada’s civil service recruitment is highly merit-based,
whereas the Philippines still deals with politicized appointments and
nepotism. Corruption is minimal and heavily punished in Canada, while
it remains a systemic problem in the Philippines.

35. Conclusion:
Towards a Resilient
&Citizen-Centric Public
Administration

36. The evolution of public administration is an
intricate, continuous, and adaptive process
that responds to changing societal needs
and global paradigms. The Philippines, in its
unique journey, strives to balance the
adoption of global best practices with its
distinct local context and historical legacies.

37. The path forward for Philippine public administration
necessitates unwavering commitment to institutional
strengthening, fostering a culture of integrity, and
ensuring comprehensive digital inclusion. The ultimate
goal remains clear: to build a public sector that is truly
responsive, accountable, and profoundly citizen-centric,
capable of serving its people effectively and equitably
in an increasingly complex world.