Bureaucracy and Philippine Government

By: PO2 Mark Anthony C Marquez

Proponent

I. Basic Concept of Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy •Is a specific form of social organization for administrative purposes.

•Is reflected in certain specific forms of organizational behavior: hierarchy, subdivision, specialization, fixed ways of doing things, and professionalization.

•Is that type of hierarchical organization which is designed rationally to coordinate the work of many individuals in pursuing a large-scale administrative task.

II. Characteristics of Philippine Bureaucracy

•Vulnerability to nepotism - favoring of relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.

•Perpetuation of the spoils system – The passage of Civil Service Law (C.A. No. 177, as amended by R.A. 144) has set up, besides classified service, unclassified and temporary positions which have become convenient instruments for the practice of nepotism, of patronage, and of influence peddling (promote an idea or view persistently or widely).

•Apathetic public reaction to bureaucratic misconduct – The people looked upon the phenomenon as a associated result of the increasing complexity of the government, a method of political harassment and a natural way of fulfilling political promises to the unemployed and underemployed segments of the population.

•Availability of external peaceful means of correcting bureaucracy – Devices, such as constitutional rights and privileges – freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, civic action – have been used for rectifying the defects and misdeeds of bureaucracy.

Characteristics of Philippine Bureaucracy

•.Survival of historical experience:

Spanish Bureaucracy – was administered according to a Civil Service Law which served as scapegoat of the weaknesses of Philippine Political Bureaucracy.

•American Bureaucracy – also served as scapegoat of the weaknesses of Philippine Political Bureaucracy.

•Nonspecial typing of bureaucrats – Filipino bureaucrats do not comprise a clearcut social class, thus Filipino Bureaucratic Organization consists of person with varied family background, aspirations, educational training and work experiences.

•Lack of independence from politics – merit system was easily attacked and tampered by politicians because of the absence of “class consciousness” and of a feeling of unity on the part of the Filipino bureaucrats.

•Essential instruments of social change – Philippine Bureaucracy’s function in nation- building will be as big, as complicated, and as demanding as the function of the whole society itself, in spite of its weaknesses, it will have to be a tool for innovations.

•Lack of independence from politics – merit system was easily attacked and tampered by politicians because of the absence of “class consciousness” and of a feeling of unity on the part of the Filipino bureaucrats.

•Essential instruments of social change – Philippine Bureaucracy’s function in nation- building will be as big, as complicated, and as demanding as the function of the whole society itself, in spite of its weaknesses, it will have to be a tool for innovations.

III. Philippine Bureaucratic Behavior :

•Conformity to policies – bureaucracy stresses unquestioning compliance to organizational policies, rules and regulations.

e.g.: The Filipino is Authoritarian. When power is given to him, he makes known to everyone that he is the boss.

•Preference toward continuity and routinization – bureaucracy puts much emphasis on specialization hence, there is a general preference for the bureaucrats to maitain the status quo (existing state of affairs) in the organization.

•Loss of self-direction or self assertion –The Filipino bureaucrats tend to submerge themselves into a collective mode of decision-making and responsibility that defines bureaucratic structure.

III. Philippine Bureaucratic Behavior :

e.g.: patience (tiyaga) in accepting and bearing consequences of difficulties in their lives which may or may not involve hardwork that involves deep abiding faith that supernatural spirits will, in the long run, reward them with good fortune for their patience and endurance of difficulties.

•Politically Supportive – the bureaucratic system in the Philippines tend to support the political party in power. The Filipinos are status oriented. Authority figures determine, to a large extent, the satisfaction or frustration of the Filipino’s aspiration for social acceptance, economic security and social mobility.

Summary:Structurally, the government is a bureaucracy. Over the

years, bureaucracy has become the dominant form of organization in modern societies.

Very often, bureaucracy is used in a negative manner of its failure to produce the organizational results with adequate efficiency.1

The observance of the classical principles of organization produces bureaucracy. However, this requires certain conditions for its development.

The increasingly complex organization can be simplified by breaking down its component parts into simple manageable structure. As a result, Weber’s bureaucracy was institutionalized.

Summary:

Organizations are not alike. Yet, when all differences are taken into consideration, many common elements stand out. Basically, they are all bureaucratic organizations.

By simplifying its complex organizational structures, it is expected that a bureaucracy will attain its goals of efficiency, economy, and greater reliability in producing its outputs.

As a social organization, bureaucracy has strong as well as weak points. In spite of some negative characteristics, it still the only systematized method of carrying out the vital tasks of institution. Moreover, there are possible solutions to the problems. Each solutions represent a distinct method of improving its personnel administration.

End of presentation. Thank You!