PARALLEL SESSION 5A: PUBLIC SECTOR TRANSFORMATIONS

What drives the need for public sector agencies to innovate? Challenges in development, such as the changing size of local governments, the development and adoption of biotechnology, and government-owned corporations being at the crossroads, were some of the concerns discussed during Parallel Session 5A. Chaired by Professor Jin Park of the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Korea, this session focuses on the aforementioned issues in the Philippine context. 

​In his presentation, "Are Local Governments in Asia Becoming 'Too Big' or 'Too Small' to Deliver Services?", Dr. Michael Tumanut of the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance argued that the evolving size of governments, the evolving size of local governments, particularly in East Asia, is having effects in the delivery of services. Despite the differences in the three countries studied, the agenda-setters are either regional or local. Meanwhile, the reform agents are instrumental in discussing territorial changes among local governments.

​Meanwhile, Mr. Abraham Manalo, doctorate student at the University of the Philippines Diliman, pointed out that, with agricultural resources becoming scarce, it is becoming increasingly difficult to feed more. He asserted that modern biotechnology has the potential to contribute to food security and sustainability. However, despite regulations to enable biotechnology adoption, there remains management and political challenges that governments need to grapple with.

​Lastly, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the Philippines are the subject of Mr. Al-Habbyel Yusoph's presentation, "Multiple Corporate Objectives and Performance Contracts." He lamented on the poor performance of SOEs, owing to the vagueness of their character and functions, as well as goals. He thus recommended that the government review the objectives of these SOEs.