Improving government performance is the persistent battle cry of every political administration in the Philippines. The absence of good governance remains the primary reason why many developing nations, including our own, continue to struggle with poverty reduction and the quest for sustainable economic and human development. At the heart of this struggle is accountability, which plays a crucial role in ensuring that public officials serve the interests of the people rather than their own. Without accountability, even the most well-designed policies fail to achieve their intended impact.
Historical Attempts at Governance Reform
The bid for good governance in the Philippines has been a long and arduous journey since the nation gained its independence. Over the decades, various administrations have introduced programs aimed at fixing the systemic issues within the bureaucracy.
During the latter part of the 1990s, the Ramos administration introduced a plan to reengineer the bureaucracy. This initiative sought to establish guiding principles for reorganizing and improving government operations to make them more efficient. Following this, the Estrada administration created the Presidential Commission on Effective Governance (PCEG) through Executive Order No. 165 in 1999. The goal of the PCEG was to formulate programs that would strengthen and streamline the executive branch, including Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and state universities and colleges.
The reform efforts continued under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, with a blueprint laid down in the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP). This plan aimed to reorient the bureaucracy, minimize overlaps in public programs, and prevent the unnecessary expansion of government activities. It emphasized building strong institutions capable of implementing sound policies and delivering essential public services.
The Persistence of Accountability Gaps
Despite these numerous attempts at institutional reform, the Philippine government has struggled to reach the ideals of “good” or “accountable” governance. While the country possesses robust constitutional and legal frameworks that serve as the foundation for a democratic state, these laws are often undermined by the absence of a serious system for holding political leaders accountable.
When accountability is missing, policies fail to command the respect and compliance of the citizenry. This lack of oversight has historically led to extensive graft and corruption, which subverts the rule of law and drains resources that should be allocated to social services and infrastructure.
Perennial Problems in Philippine Governance
To understand the current state of politics in the country, we must examine the specific issues that hinder progress. These perennial problems affect different branches of government and stages of the political process.
| Governance Issue | Description and Impact |
| Electoral Process | Challenges involving vote-buying, political dynasties, and the integrity of automated and manual voting systems. |
| Impeachment Process | The use of impeachment as a political tool rather than a strictly legal or accountability-based mechanism. |
| Congressional Ethics | The perceived inability of the Congressional Ethics Committee to discipline its own members for misconduct. |
| Legislating Beyond Intent | Instances where the implementation of laws or the creation of IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) deviates from the original legislative intent. |
| Judicial Corruption | Corruption within the court system that delays justice and favors the wealthy or politically connected. |
The Philippine electoral process remains one of the most significant hurdles, often characterized by the dominance of traditional politicians (TRAPOs) and systemic flaws that prevent genuine representation. Similarly, the misuse of impeachment and the weaknesses of ethics committees in Congress suggest that the “checks and balances” intended by the Constitution are often bypassed. Furthermore, when the judiciary—the final arbiter of justice—is tainted by corruption, the very foundation of the republic is weakened. Addressing these challenges is not merely a matter of passing new laws, but of fostering a culture of genuine accountability among leaders and the electorate alike.
