PARALLEL SESSION 2B: HR AND SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

​Building a workforce of public servants that is ready to take on today's complex challenges is the focus of presentations in Parallel Session 2B. In particular, they reviewed civil service reforms undertaken by the governments of the Philippines and Hong Kong SAR, and strategies for enhancing social capital for provision of public services for the elderly. Professor M. Jae Moon of Yonsei University, Korea, chaired the session. Ms. Soon Eun Kim of Seoul National University, Korea; Ms. Nimfa S. Villaroman of the City Government of Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines; and Dr. Peter K.W. Fong of the Hong Kong Public Administration Association, served as presenters.

​In his study, "Healthy Aging and Social Capital: An Analysis of the Effect of Social Capital Using Multi-level Modeling," Prof. Kim used multi-level analysis to measure the effect of local-level social capital on individual health. The study validated previous relevant literatures on understanding individual-level social capital and local-level social capital on the health of the ageing population. In conclusion, the study reiterated that it is necessary to support elderly individual to accumulate social capital for the health of the elderly.

​Meanwhile, Ms. Nimfa Villaroman analyzed the performance of the employees in three (3) city local government units in Nueva Ecija in the delivery of basic services using the Strategic Performance Management System framework. Specifically, the study gauged performance in the fields of health, social welfare, infrastructure, agriculture and environment. The study also identified problems encountered by the employees in the delivery of these services. Villaroman suggested that future studies on the performance of employees from the national agencies using the SPMS are expected to identify the flaws of the system.

​Finally, in the paper, "A Review of the Civil Service Reform in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: Lessons for Asian Public Policymakers," Dr. Peter Fong analyzed the rationales, objectives, principles, processes, and initiatives of the civil service reform undertaken by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Government. The paper evaluated issues, changes, outcomes, goal achievements, and implications to the public service. It concluded with lessons learned form the Hong Kong experience and recommendations of critical success factors for other Asian public policy makers who wish to launch new reforms to improve civil service productivities in their own political and administrative jurisdictions.