ASIAN REVIEW OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (ARPA)
The Asian Review of Public Administration (ARPA) is the flagship journal of the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA). It is an internationally-refereed journal in the field of public administration and governance in Asia and the Pacific region and beyond.
Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA)
Digital Transformation in Public Administration: Assessing the Impact of Emerging Technologies on Governance and Public Service Delivery
This study evaluates the deep influence of emerging technologies on governance and public service delivery during the public sector’s digital transformation. This research implements a qualitative and descriptive strategy to analyze secondary data from multiple sources, including websites, books, journal articles, newspapers, and reports. This research investigates major advancements, including artificial intelligence and machine learning components (Generative AI, ChatGPT, and Google Gemini/Bard), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, big data and analytics, digital twins, robotic process automation, augmented reality, and the metaverse. The analysis assesses these technologies based on their value for improving public administration by simplifying service delivery and operational efficiency and establishing fresh value structures between governments and the general public. According to this study, these technologies have advantages and disadvantages, demonstrating their utility in enhancing public service quality while lowering bureaucracy and improving governmental operational effectiveness. Public sector employees require sophisticated skills to successfully implement these technological innovations, while institutions must use technology to fulfill their organizational requirements, according to the research findings. To meet this digital shift, civil servants need proper training; thus, educational bodies and higher education institutions should implement technology-oriented curricula. This research contributes to creating new knowledge by offering systematic assessments of these technologies to support decision- making among policymakers and staff experts across various fields.
Copyright (c) 2026 Md Nahidul Islam (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Regimes and macroeconomic variables in Nigeria: An analysis of Yar’Adua-Jonathan and Buhari’s regimes
This study compares Nigeria’s macroeconomic performance under Presidents Yar’ Adua– Jonathan (2007–2015) and Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023). The study adopts a descriptive method and is guided by political economy, macroeconomic stabilization, and institutional theories. The study reveals that the Yar’ Adua–Jonathan regime adopted expansionary fiscal policies and subsidy programs, whereas the Buhari regime implemented a budget- conscious approach due to different political inspirations and public choice dynamics. The policies adopted by both regimes differently impacted the GDP, inflation rates, unemployment levels, and debt management. The administration of Yar’ Adua–Jonathan achieved an average GDP growth rate of 6.0%, a 10.8% inflation rate, an unemployment rate of 3.82%, an infant mortality rate of 82.8/1000, and an average debt service of $1.5 billion between 2008 and 2015. Contrarily, the Buhari administration recorded an average GDP growth rate of 1.4%, an inflation rate of 16.2%, an unemployment rate of 4.7%, a debt service of $6.2 billion, and an infant mortality rate of 73.7/1000 between 2016 and 2023. Buhari’s leadership approach contributed to policy failures that hampered economic growth, whereas the approach of the Yar’ Adua–Jonathan administration contributed to healthier economic growth recorded between 2007 and 2015. Therefore, the study recommends that the government ‘s reforms should focus on expansionary fiscal policies to boost economic growth and de-emphasize monetary and foreign exchange restrictions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Goodluck Owhe Robert, Sunday Olabisi Adewara (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Strengthening Multi-level Governance for Drought Emergency Response under Climate Change in Bekasi Regency, Indonesia
Multi-level governance (MLG) explains how authority and coordination are distributed vertically across government tiers and horizontally across sectors and among non-state actors. In drought emergencies, which are typically slow-onset and increasingly shaped by climate change, such coordination is critical. Bekasi Regency experienced severe water scarcity during the 2023 dry season, affecting more than 40 villages by October 2023. This study examines how MLG operates in Bekasi Regency’s drought emergency response and develops a framework to strengthen MLG in the context of climate change. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with nine key informants across national, provincial, and local institutions and non-governmental actors, complemented by a document review. The analysis applied thematic analysis. This study proposes an MLG strengthening framework that links contingency planning, operational plans, and emergency status decrees, thereby clarifying and making the vertical–horizontal lines of authority more consistent and measurable. The framework emphasizes an integrated command mechanism connected to climate indicators and early warning systems, an integrated multilevel emergency financing scheme, strengthened actor capacity, and an information system combining climate and spatial data. Non-governmental actors are positioned as co-governance partners, while cross-level monitoring and evaluation are institutionalized as learning mechanisms for SOP refinement, plan updating, and long-term adaptation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Stella Mariska Yuncie, Dr. Retnadi Heru Jatmiko, M.Sc. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Digital Transition in Public Financial Management: A Comparative Study of Strategies, Success Factors, and Challenges in Thailand and Singapore
In the first quarter of the 21st century, digital transformation emerged as a key catalyst for reshaping public administration systems across Asia. This study examines the transition of public financial management (PFM) systems toward digitalization in Thailand, with comparative insights drawn from Singapore, which is recognized as a regional leader in digital governance. Anchored in the field of public administration, this study explores how national strategies, institutional frameworks, and technological integration influence the effectiveness, transparency, and responsiveness of public fiscal systems. Using a qualitative comparative approach, this study analyzes secondary data, including national digital policies, government reports, and academic literature. Key findings highlight that while Thailand has made significant progress through centralized platforms such as the GFMIS and e-GP, challenges remain in areas such as inter-agency data integration, cybersecurity, and adaptive capacity. In contrast, Singapore demonstrates strengths in strategic planning, AI adoption, and whole-of-government infrastructure development. The study concludes with policy recommendations for enhancing Thailand’s digital PFM by leveraging lessons from Singapore, emphasizing data interoperability, capacity building, and regulatory innovation. This study contributes to contemporary public administration discourse by addressing digital governance challenges within emerging economies and offering a practical roadmap for enhancing fiscal accountability and efficiency in the digital age.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dhanabhadr Sookhdee (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
How Does Indonesia’s 2025 Budget Reform Reflect the Logic of Austerity Governance?
The year 2025 saw Indonesia enacting a very authoritative presidential directive through Presidential Instruction No. 1/2025, encompassing a huge efficiency boost on the part of government ministries and intergovernmental transfers alike. While this drastic measure is couched in the language of technocratic necessity, it also relates to larger global trends in austerity governance-were decline in state expenditure is legitimized by notions of management and modernization. This article analyses the construction of budget efficiency as a priority strategy in the area of fiscal discourse and its implications for nonprioritized state actors such as provincial governments, law enforcement agencies, and actors in the MSME sector. The study does a selective review of approximately thirty articles from reputed journals to derive credible insights into the context around important national policy documents, centers its discussion on the Nota Keuangan APBN 2025 and Presidential Regulation No. 12/2025 on RPJMN 2025-2029. These documents are considered discursive materials that do not simply elaborate fiscal preferences but also constitute overarching principles of efficiency within governance. Some results show bifurcated pathways: In flagship programs and strategic sectors, protection and growth occur, while non-priority expenditures face restrictive contraction. This reallocation may present opportunities for several short-term efficiency gains, but it has the adverse effect of centralizing fiscal authority, limiting local discretion, and narrowing institutional capacity in components of utmost importance to inclusion and accountability. These processes are aggressively defined as coercive efficiency in the paper, whereby austerity is secondarily entrenched through technical discourses and rearrangement of institutions. This means that Indonesia’s post-2025 reform is not just a temporary adjustment but an actual structural embedding of austerity within governance along the fiscal trajectory of the country.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mujibur Rahman Khairul Muluk, Sajida Sajida (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Social Equity in Nonprofit Organizations: An Exploratory Study of Practitioners and Scholars’ Perspectives
Social equity is a fundamental pillar in defining the main contributions of nonprofit organizations to civil society. Through a survey and focus group interviews, this study examines how nonprofit scholars and practitioners perceive social equity by focusing on nonprofits’ governance, policies, and program operations. By surveying and interviewing both practitioners and scholars, this study observes the importance of social equity in the nonprofit field in terms of its practical implications and program activities. Results show that nonprofits incorporate social equity values into their practices in varying degrees regarding policies; scholars associated more with accountability related criteria while practitioners placed more emphasis on practical management and action-oriented elements in their perceptions of social equity. This study contributes to the increasing significance placed on social equity in the nonprofit sector by recognizing and comprehending various approaches in scholarly research and practice management.
Copyright (c) 2025 Bok Gyo Jeong, Jung Ah (Claire) Yun, Sung-Ju Kim, Deborah Mohammed-Spigner, Sarah A. Mack (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Public Sentiment Toward AI and Digitalization in Government Services: A Sentiment Analysis Approach to Assess Bureaucratic Readiness and Trust
Given the speed at which technology is developing, public administration is about to enter a crucial transitional phase in which digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) are being increasingly incorporated into government services. This study examines how the general public feels about digitalization, especially the use of AI in government agencies, with an emphasis on possible changes in bureaucracy and the resulting dynamics of trust. This study intends to map prevalent sentiments, both positive and negative, surrounding AI-driven reforms in public services by using sentiment analysis on a sizable dataset of public comments sourced from YouTube news videos about government digitalization and user reviews from nine priority government applications. To find the prevailing narratives and emotional tones reflected in citizen responses, the analysis looks into frequently used keywords and phrases. It also evaluates whether the sentiment trends indicate resistance, skepticism, or optimism about digitalization and AI’s potential to replace conventional administrative and public service roles. The results are used to assess how prepared government institutions are for the AI era and to suggest tactical methods for dealing with these administrative obstacles. Finally, by offering data-driven insights into public trust and expectations and suggestions for promoting openness, diversity, and flexibility in public administration, this study adds to the conversation on digital governance. Understanding public opinion is crucial to ensuring moral implementation and upholding the integrity of public service as governments increasingly use automated systems.
Copyright (c) 2025 Pujiatmo Subarkah, Rezky Yayang Yakhamid (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Fiscal Sustainability of Local Governments in Nepal: Challenges, Prospects, and Policy Implications
The Constitution of Nepal, enacted in 2015, abolished the long-standing centralized monarchical system and adopted a federal democratic republic with three tiers of government: federal, provincial, and local government. Given the constitutional recognition, autonomy, and major responsibilities of local governments in service delivery and local development, their fiscal capacity, accountability, and overall success will determine the future of federalism in the country. However, the early experience reveals several challenges, including vertical and horizontal fiscal imbalances, growing audit irregularities, and the dependence of most local governments on grants and transfers. These obstacles threaten fiscal sustainability and decentralized governance in Nepal. This study aims to reflect the current state of fiscal decentralization, following a decade of federal practice in Nepal. It includes both urban and rural local governments to examine how fiscal design and its implementation affect overall local fiscal sustainability in Nepal. Applying a mixed-methods approach, it analyzes local fiscal trends to understand how fiscal federalism operates at the grassroots-level. The preliminary findings suggest that the current local fiscal health appears balanced owing to external transfers and budget surpluses resulting from poor execution. However, the persistent deficit of the federal treasury waves a red flag for local fiscal health and Nepal’s overall federal system.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rana Jit Bahadur (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Repositioning the Seal of Good Local Governance: Strengthening Local Performance Systems for a Meaningful Decentralization
The Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), institutionalized through Republic Act No. 11292 (2019), is the Philippine government’s flagship, performance-based recognition and incentive program for local government units (LGUs). Designed to promote accountability, transparency, and holistic service delivery, the SGLG has provided a common governance roadmap but is now facing mounting challenges in the wake of the Mandanas–Garcia ruling and growing demands for decentralization. Drawing on qualitative policy analysis, this study combined document review, consultations with six LGUs, and dialogue with the DILG’s Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS) team to examine systemic friction in the program. The findings highlight five interrelated issues: (1) an overemphasis on documentation and input indicators, (2) fragmentation across overlapping audit and performance systems, (3) divergent perspectives on output- versus outcome-based indicators, (4) insufficient institutional capacity, compounded by the decisive role of local chief executives in steering compliance, and (5) importance of leadership in SGLG compliance. The paper argues that SGLG risks devolving into a compliance exercise that rewards “good documenters” rather than genuine performers, while overburdening weaker municipalities. To reposition the SGLG as a developmental performance framework, four reform directions are proposed: (1) performance improvement support for LGUs that fall short but demonstrate progress, (2) transparency through an interactive SGLG performance dashboard, and (3) reducing duplication through data integration. The study further proposes a (4) tiered indicator framework—inputs (annual, all LGUs), outputs (three-year cycle, tied to recognition), and outcomes (selective, for exceptional LGUs)—to balance inclusivity, feasibility, and developmental ambition.Reforms along these lines would not only strengthen the SGLG but also advance the broader goals of decentralization by empowering LGUs, expanding citizen capabilities, and fostering a more accountable and responsive government.
Copyright (c) 2026 Lesther D. Balmatero, EnP. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Resilient Governance in the Age of Populism: Strengthening Public Administration Integrity Through Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA)
On July 27, 2023, the Prime Minister of Malaysia announced the Madani Economy initiative, aimed at making the country economically competitive by promoting balanced, inclusive, and value-driven growth. To respond to these goals, the government marked public sector reform as a critical strategy and aimed to promote trust in the government through effective governance and agility in service delivery. Therefore, the government has proposed the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), which will be implemented starting December 1, 2024, and will enhance service delivery with an improved structure of the public service. The SSPA introduces comprehensive improvements in performance assessment and talent development, with particular emphasis on productivity enhancement and value integration. The SSPA is established based on five (5) quick-win initiatives that aim to increase the productivity of civil servants by promoting values and adopting technology. This study examines the role of the SSPA in enforcing key values of public service in terms of accountability, professionalism, and fairness in a changing political environment and how they continue to provide the best services to the people. The main aim of these efforts is to sustain public services’ apolitical quality. The study is based on information found on official government websites, information collected with the participation of civil servants in different parts of the country during stakeholder consultations, and a review of major policy and strategy documents. The results suggest that the enhancement of bureaucratic integrity in terms of better governance and value promotion in public service is a key issue in addressing today’s challenges. Finally, improving bureaucratic integrity is a mandatory step towards improving governance, institutional trust, and the long-term confidence of the population, especially in light of the complexity of the interactions between populism and public administration.
Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA)
Copyright (c) 2025 Nuryusnita binti Yusoff, Inas binti Zulkipli (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Workplace Inclusivity in the Bangsamoro Region: The Interplay of Employee Engagement, Adaptive Leadership, and Public Administration Practices
This study investigates workplace inclusivity in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a post-conflict region characterized by ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity. Aligning with Gartner’s Inclusion Index, quantitative data from 411. Bangsamoro employees were analyzed to assess inclusivity across seven dimensions: fair treatment, integrating differences, decision-making, psychological safety, trust, sense of belonging, and diversity. The results indicated a high overall inclusivity perception (mean = 3.73), with diversity scoring the highest (mean = 3.92) and psychological safety the lowest (mean = 3.55). Multiple regression revealed employee engagement (b = 0.478, p-value < 0.001), adaptive leadership (b = 0.244, p-value < 0.001), and public administration practices (b = 0.207, p < 0.001) as significant predictors of inclusivity. Hierarchical regression highlighted moderating effects of sociodemographic factors: (a) age and gender strengthened the impact of adaptive leadership on inclusivity; and (b) ethnicity and geographic location influenced the efficacy of engagement and administrative practices. The findings underscore BARMM’s progress in fostering inclusive governance through participatory policies and culturally sensitive leadership while identifying gaps in psychological safety and minority representation. Recommendations include decentralizing inclusivity initiatives, enhancing adaptive leadership training, and integrating local equity frameworks into public administration. This study contributes to the discourse on inclusive governance in fragmented societies and offers a model for balancing national policies with local implementation. This aligns with the emphasis of the New Public Service framework on equity and collaborative decision-making.
Copyright (c) 2025 Alimodin M. Hassan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Market-Based Planning Instruments for Ecotourism Governance: Lessons from Vietnam’s National Parks
Ecotourism development in a forested national park has several negative environmental impacts, but the public sector is increasingly struggling to fund forest conservation. Vietnam has applied market-based planning instruments to manage ecotourism development and protect forest areas, including a payment for forest environmental services (PFES) scheme and leasing of forest environments for ecotourism business plans. However, the effectiveness of these instruments in addressing the overexploitation of resources by tourism development and reducing the funding gap for forest conservation remains unclear. Seeking alternative solutions to address these issues, this study examines three market-based planning instruments, including a cap-and-trade system, transferable development rights as non- monetary compensation, and an auctioning system, to manage ecotourism development in Vietnam’s national parks. The results of this study may not only be useful for addressing problems in Vietnam but also for a broader scope, as they expand the general debate on the feasibility of employing a market-based approach to environmental conservation. This highlights important governance and policy design questions that are central to public administration in the Asia–Pacific context.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mai Duong, Ngoc T.B. Duong, D. Ary A. Samsura, Erwin van der Krabben (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Reciprocity beyond Exchange: Reimagining Governance through the BARTER Principles with Select Cases from the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam
This paper reimagines governance through the principle of reciprocity, drawing from the ancient practice of barter to address the challenges of a brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible (BANI) world. Whereas conventional governance relies on hierarchy and compliance, barter’s heuristics, such as direct negotiation, resource pooling, and implicit trust, highlight how cooperation can be sustained under uncertainty. Building on these insights, the study advances the BARTER framework (Bridging Actors of Responsive, Trust-based, Empowering, and Resilient governance) as a mid-range theory that links micro- level reciprocity with polycentric governance design. Comparative cases from Southeast and East Asia, specifically the participatory budgeting in the Philippines, Indonesia’s musrenbang, Vietnam’s cooperative models, Singapore’s Smart Nation Reforms, bayanihan mutual aid, and Taiwan’s digital co-creation, illustrate how reciprocity can be institutionalized into deliberation, trust-building, and adaptive mechanisms. The analysis suggests that BARTER governance complements rather than replaces formal institutions by embedding trust, enabling shared authority, and enhancing adaptability. The findings provide both conceptual clarity for scholars and practical pathways for policymakers to design resilient, trust-based governance in volatile contexts.
From Annual to Medium-Term Budgetary Framework: Evolution of Public Financial Management in Bangladesh
The financial management of the Bangladesh government was in a precarious position in the late 1980s. The budget size increased manifold compared to that of the 1970s, ominously relying on development assistance that concurrently meted out feeble fiscal management. To ameliorate this creeping fiscal position, the Government undertook an array of financial management reforms, most of which came through the implementation of the Medium-Term Budgetary Framework (MTBF). Reforms in budget forecasting, budget presentation, linkage between the budget and medium-term macroeconomic goals, and modernization of accounting and auditing were major components targeted and transformed in the reform process. In this paper, I provide a historical overview of the budgeting, accounting, and auditing processes before the 1990s to explicate the necessity for the reforms brought about under the aegis of the MTBF. I then elaborate on the major reforms in budgetary, accounting, and auditing practices introduced under the MTBF.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ashraf Haque (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Collective Action Dilemmas and Integration Mechanisms in the Time of COVID-19: Examining Government Responses to the Pandemic in the Philippines
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the country’s weaknesses in health and emergency management. Against the backdrop of scarce resources and governance challenges, the health crisis has highlighted the importance of collective action among government units in containing the virus and meeting the day-today needs of constituents. This article examines the collective action dilemmas faced by national and local governments in the Philippines during the pandemic and the integration mechanisms they implemented to address these challenges through the lens of the Institutional Collective Action framework. By examining various cases, it argues for the need to incorporate new elements into the framework—such as power asymmetries, leadership role, political pressures, technological applications, institutional capacity—that are shaping collaboration risks, mechanism costs, and the choice of collaborative mechanisms. The Philippine experience can inform future governance arrangements and crisis management strategies, such as in harnessing existing networks and self-organized partnerships, leveraging technology, and fostering institutional adaptability.
Institutional Collective Action framework
Copyright (c) 2024 Rizalino B. Cruz, Zarina Marie E. Vazquez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Analyzing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Primary Health Care and the Service Delivery Network in Baguio City, Philippines
A study was conducted in Baguio City, Philippines, with the objectives of evaluating the delivery of primary health care (PHC) and establishing its health care provider network (HCPN) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges encountered were identified, and the actions taken and key strategies to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 were analyzed. Guided by the Primary Health Care Performance Initiative Conceptual Framework, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 25 participants from the city government, public and private healthcare providers, and patients. Thematic analysis from interviews revealed significant deficiencies in PHC, a fragmented HCPN, and a lack of robust public health infrastructure. Actions taken were consistent with the PHC triad of multi-sectoral policies and actions, engaged communities for health promotion, and the delivery of integrated clinical and public health services. Among the key strategies to mitigate the deleterious impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was participatory governance and leadership. The local chief executive collaborated with multisectoral stakeholders and ensured responsive adjustments to population health needs. These included aggressive disease surveillance and the use of digital technologies, efficient supply chain management, health workforce augmentation, robust community engagement, and proactive population outreach for health services. Fast-tracking the HCPN, with primary care providers becoming the first point of contact and navigators in the referral network, contributed to better health outcomes.
Copyright (c) 2024 Jamie Eloise M. Agbayani https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Representative Bureaucracy: Implementing Effects and Structural Barriers of Affirmative Action Initiative in Nepal
Since its adoption in 2007, affirmative action policy within the Nepalese civil service has been the focus of research concerning representative bureaucracy dynamics. This study elucidates the extent to which affirmative action initiatives have fostered representation of marginalized groups within the bureaucratic framework of Nepal, thereby promoting social equity and inclusivity. Through qualitative research methods and a scoping review of 75 secondary scholarly articles and authorized publications, the research reveals that the affirmative action policy has positively impacted the representation of women and historically marginalized communities. The findings of this research shed light on both the adverse and positive effects of affirmative action and key barriers in Nepal’s civil service since 2007–2022. While affirmative action policy has contributed to a notable growth in the representation of marginalized groups, including women, Dalits, and ethnic minorities, inequalities persist in terms of equal opportunities for empowerment and meaningful participation in decision-making processes. Furthermore, structural barriers such as deep-rooted biases, a lack of adequate education and resources, patriarchal organizational culture, and limited political commitment pose major hurdles to the effective implementation of affirmative action initiatives in Nepal.
Copyright (c) 2024 Baburam Bhul https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Jeepney Phase(In): The Unaccountable Innovation and Ethical Dilemma of the PUJ Modernization Program
Public innovation refers to the implementation of transformative ideas designed to enhance the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of service delivery. In the Philippine transportation sector, the Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) Modernization Program represents such an innovation, aiming to provide environmentally sustainable transportation solutions and dignified livelihoods to its target beneficiaries while alleviating urban congestion nationwide.However, like many public innovations, the PUJ Modernization Program has generated unintended perverse effects that negatively impact both direct and indirect stakeholders. These outcomes raise critical questions regarding the extent to which stakeholders’ values were adequately considered during implementation and whether program administrators upheld appropriate ethical standards and accountability measures. This study employed Alfiller’s Political-Administrative Accountability Continuum and Spicer’s Value Pluralism as theoretical frameworks to examine government practices. Through document and content analysis of secondary data—including academic literature, laws and policies, news reports, press releases, and public statements—this research investigated how the Philippine government practiced ethics and accountability in implementing the PUJ Modernization Program. The findings reveal significant governance failures. Despite being answerable to the public, lawmakers, implementing agencies, and sectoral representatives failed to reconcile diverse stakeholder values or promote meaningful participatory governance. Consequently, jeepney drivers and operators—the program’s most directly affected groups—experienced multiple adverse effects: economic exclusion, information asymmetry, value conflicts, ambiguous government planning, misallocation of public funds, displacement of local industries, erosion of cultural identity, and inadequate democratic oversight.
Copyright (c) 2025 Reiou Regie Manuel https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Data-Driven Devolution: Empowering Philippine LGUs forEffective Service Delivery
This paper assesses the challenges posed by Executive Order 138 (EO 138) in devolving functions from national government agencies (NGAs) to Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Philippines. Emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift in perceiving LGUs as crucial partners in nation-building, this study presents data-driven evidence of the fiscal inadequacy of LGUs in assuming additional responsibilities. Such inadequacies are reflected in the data pertaining to the average increase due to the Mandana-Garcia Ruling per level of LGU, the increase in spending by LGUs following the downloading of additional funds, and the variation in fund balances across LGUs. Proposing a service delivery-focused approach, this study advocates identifying “universal” services to be delivered by LGUs and “targeted” services based on local needs. A mathematical framework is suggested to determine LGU financial capability, emphasizing the subsidiarity and decentralization principles. This paper calls for the issuance of an Executive Order focusing on this shift in perspective and repealing EO 138, s. 2021, and the formulation of a National Strategic Framework for Local Government Empowerment.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ralfhee Blake Barrios https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Local Governance in Tuguegarao City: Inputs for Policy Recommendation
This study examines the state of local governance in Tuguegarao City, Philippines, three decades after the implementation of the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991. Grounded in decentralization and Fayol’s management principles, it assesses local development, administration, and democracy, and identifies problems and best practices from 2011 to 2021. Using a descriptive research design, data were gathered from 402 respondents composed of City Government unit heads and Barangay Development Council members, supplemented by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Statistical tools, including t-tests and ANOVA, were used to determine differences across demographic groups. Results show that respondents rated local governance as achieving notable gains across recurring issues in decentralization (WM=3.65), local development (WM=3.83), local administration (WM=3.84), and local democracy (WM=3.96). Significant improvements were noted in digitalization, human resource capacity, participatory mechanisms, and representation of basic sectors. Age, sex, and income did not significantly influence assessments, while educational attainment showed differences in views on decentralization issues. Persistent challenges included political interference, low tax collection, limited transparency, and slow digital adoption. Best practices centered on disaster risk reduction, poverty reduction, business-friendliness, and community-based programs. The study recommends strengthening transparency, enhancing participation, expanding digital systems, and institutionalizing effective practices to sustain local governance reforms.
Copyright (c) 2024 Johnny A. Gerardo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
SUPREME HRM: Towards Sustainable Social Equity Practices
SUPREME HRM refers to a Sustainable Program for Reinforcement in Establishing Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (SUPREME HRM). It is a product of an empirical study with a theoretical analysis that integrates the Philippine Civil Service Commission’s Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME HRM) with contemporary tenets in Sustainable Human Resource Management (SuHRM). This new framework promotes Sustainable Social Equity (SSE) practices by managing strategic employee engagement and sustainable employee experience. This suggests a balanced integration of PRIME HRM and SuHRM, creating an ideal contemporary human resource management (HRM) culture to address SSE issues. Based on sustainable processes theory, SUPREME HRM offers a complete way to carry out HRM to improve employees’ experiences through SuHRM and increase their engagement in the government sector through PRIME HRM. In addition, this novel approach provides an equilibrium between process-oriented and people-oriented programs, integrating work and life for the government workforce in the Philippines. Thus, the dynamics of SUPREME HRM significantly impact the personal and social development, economic acumen, and environmental consciousness of its human capital to improve their experiences of a world-class bureaucracy.
Copyright (c) 2024 Momer N. Suringa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Research Trends and Practices in Philippine Public Administration: A Content Analysis of the Philippine Journal of Public Administration, 1990-2019
While the Philippine public administration (PA) research has a long and productive history, research trends and practices in Philippine PA are seldom the subject of recent empirical research. This study aims to fill this literature gap on trends in the study of Philippine PA and governance, as represented in the Philippine Journal of Public Administration. It also describes temporal shifts in research approaches, focus, and citation practices. With content analysis as the principal method of inquiry and analysis, the study examines the following areas of PJPA articles published between 1990 and 2019: article attributes, profile of contributors, methodology, geographic focus, topic or subject area, and citation practices. The study uses data historicization, cross-tabulation, and descriptive statistics. Results show that some research topics have been consistent for the last three decades, while others were popular only in the 1990s and 2000s; others found resurgence or currency only recently, or are under-examined or nascent. Others have become less studied or are neglected as a field of study. Consistent with those found in the literature, qualitative studies continue to dominate the journal, but the proportion of quantitative articles has seen a steady increase in the last three decades. Similarly, collaborative practice in the journal is slowly increasing, but geographical diversity is found wanting. The trends also corroborate previous empirical findings on the dwindling contribution from PA practitioners in recent decades, and the underrepresentation of female authors in PA scholarship. In the latter, the publication rate of women in the PJPA is slightly higher compared with those found in the literature.
Philippine Journal of Public Administration
Copyright (c) 2024 Michael Tumanut, Vincent Silarde, Jayson Fajarda, Eula Marie Mangaoang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Fiscal Policy and Multilateral Cooperation: Challenges andOpportunities for Philippine Connectivity
The Asia-Pacific’s connectivity ambitions highlight the need for sound fiscal policies to address infrastructure gaps and ensure sustainable development. This study explores how the Philippines can optimize access to multilateral funding from the AIIB and ADB by leveraging fiscal strategies like debt management, public-private partnerships, and budgetary reforms. It examines challenges such as limited fiscal space, governance issues, and geopolitical dynamics while advocating for fiscal transparency, improved project evaluation, and institutional capacity-building. By aligning national policies with regional priorities, the Philippines can strengthen multilateral cooperation, advance sustainable infrastructure investments, and contribute to inclusive economic growth and regional integration.
Copyright (c) 2024 Severo C. Madrona Jr. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Costs and Benefits of Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation in the Philippines
In 2016, the Philippine government’s war on drugs led to over one million persons who use drugs (PWUDs) surrendering for treatment. The government declared that 90% of PWUDs, who were low and moderate risk, could be treated through Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation (CBDR). Although there have been evaluations of the impact of CBDR programs, no cost-benefit analysis has been conducted in the Philippines. This study addresses the scarcity of research on CBDR’s costs and benefits in developing economies. It focused on 12 local government units (LGUs) from six regions in the Philippines. Interviews with program managers, service providers, and clients were conducted to elicit costs and benefits. The budgets of LGUs for CBDR for fiscal years 2020-2022 were examined. Secondary reports and literature were reviewed to determine valuation assumptions. Results show that CBDR’s costs were 12-16% of the cost of inpatient treatment. The cost-benefit ratio indicated that for every peso spent by the LGU, the benefits due to savings amount to P4.40. Clients and service providers also reported intangible benefits such as decreased drug use, increased confidence, and a more positive outlook. Other benefits reported were improvements in family relations, decreased stigma, access to services and employment, and non-interference with education or employment. For LGUs, the investment in CBDR makes economic sense, showing that CBDR is a viable alternative to inpatient treatment, at least for low and moderate risk users. However, challenges to sustainability include resource constraints and the need for integration with health services. Future
Copyright (c) 2025 Regina Hechanova, Ambrosio Catalla Jr., Miguel Raphael Tongco https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Role of local government to combat global pandemic: a case ofBirendranagar Municipality
Nepal experienced power devolution as the country entered the federal system via the new constitution in 2015. The main goal of federalism is to restructure the state as people aspired to various social movements and a decade-long internal armed conflict. Although federalism is a very new concept in Nepal and is unfamiliar, it has great consequences. One of the major implications of power devolution has been observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The activism of local governments with the engagement of community members in Nepal has proven effective in order to controlCOVID-19. This study aimed to analyze the activities of local levels, particularly Birendranagar Municipality, to prevent and combat the global pandemic. This article employs interviews, focused group discussions, observation of holding centers, and analyses the policies and activities of Birendranagar Municipality related to combating COVID-19. The main objective of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of local levels and their receptiveness to global issues, and thus, the importance of power devolution and local administration to maintain peace and prosperity. The main finding is that actions undertaken at the local level are more effective and prompt than other forms of government and their agencies.
Copyright (c) 2024 Kamal Raj Lamsal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Lessons and Challenges in Implementing Gender-ResponsiveBudgeting at the Local Level in Mongolia
Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) has emerged as a crucial policy instrument for promoting gender equity in public financial management. In Mongolia, despite relatively strong gender equality indicators, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles and continue to face structural barriers to accessing public services and economic opportunities. This article examines the lessons learned and challenges encountered in the local-level implementation of GRB in Mongolia from 2020 to 2023. Drawing on a pilot initiative supported by the MERIT project and implemented in four provinces—Dundgobi, Dornod, Sukhbaatar, and Tuv—the study analyzes the impact of capacity-building efforts, micro-projects, and intergovernmental collaboration on integrating gender perspectives into local governance and budgeting. Using qualitative analysis of training data, project implementation reports, and stakeholder reflections, the study identifies key enablers of GRB, such as gender-disaggregated data usage, institutional commitment, and civil servant engagement. However, it also highlights persistent challenges including limited analytical capacity, inadequate data systems, and policy fragmentation. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on public sector reform and gender mainstreaming by offering practical insights for scaling up GRB in decentralized governance contexts. The article concludes with policy recommendations to ensure the sustainability and institutionalization of GRB in Mongolia and similar transitioning economies.
Copyright (c) 2024 Altangerel Radnaabazar, Surenchimeg Dulamsuren , Otgontuya Langan, Byambasuren Punsantsogboo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Towards Sustainable Empowerment: A Guided Micro- Entrepreneurship Program for Unlocking Welfare Dependency in Malaysia
Productive Welfare under the Social Welfare Department Malaysia aims to end welfare assistance by developing individuals’ capabilities through government programs. The guided micro-entrepreneurship program is one of the means of empowerment, and sustaining it after the program ends is a challenge, especially for vulnerable communities such as Persons with Disabilities (PwD), single mothers, and the poor. This study explores the sustainable empowerment process among guided microentrepreneurs in a productive welfare program by addressing how sustainable empowerment occurs among guided microentrepreneurs. The study involved eight participants from Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, selected through purposive sampling from the Social Welfare Department Malaysia, 2 Years Exit Programme (2YEP). Data collection included interviews, observations, and document analysis. Thematic analysis reveals that sustainable empowerment is achieved through coping strategies, lifelong learning, and effective business management. Hence, achieving this requires consistent efforts, good program governance, and full support from the family and community. In conclusion, ending the cycle of welfare dependency and driving it into self-reliance requires whole-of-government and whole-of-nation involvement, long-term program planning, and utilization of coping resources, namely social capital, attitude, material, spirituality, and psychology. Empowerment gains significance when welfare beneficiaries embrace independence from assistance and contribute to the welfare of others.
Copyright (c) 2024 Putri Noorafedah Megat Tajudin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Cooperation Modalities and Benchmarking for Good Governance In The New Reality
The new reality we live in today places governments on the fast-paced race for prompt solutions, underlining the ever-growing significance of collaboration and benchmarking, which can help every party to find “best fit” solutions for their own settings. In demanding new ways of cooperation, modern challenges show the high relevance of the multilateral platform that the Astana Civil Service Hub (ACSH) offers through various forms of partnership with its wide network of participating countries and partner institutions. Eventually, benchmarking and “best-fit” solutions that governments are searching for demand adequate measurements, including international indices that, as argued in this paper, require methodological improvements to meet the current development trends.
Copyright (c) 2024 Alikhan Baimenov, Tolkyn Omarova, Diana Sharipova https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/