PARALLEL SESSION 6B: HR AND SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

​Presentations in Parallel Sessions 6B looked at importance of policy research and analysis, taking into consideration the interplay of key actors and their interests, as basis for developing and executing policy reforms. The session is chaired by Professor Byeong-soo Yoon of the National Human Resources Development Institute, Korea. It features cases from Indonesia and the Philippines. 

The first presenter, Mr. Muhammad Syafiq of the National Institute of Public Administration in Indonesia looked into the role of a public perception survey in reducing the negative impact of bureaucratization in their country.  In particular, the survey involved the perceived problems during the process of business licensing. The study employed policy research, qualitative methods and case studies of six local governments’ business licensing services. Syafiq also looked into procedures, time and cost variables in order to measure the complexity of the services. Results of the perception survey showed problems such as lack of certainty of time and cost, as well as lack of standard procedures – these were further identified as partial delegation of authority, lack of professional HR, overlapping rules and less optimal use of IT. To address the problems, he recommended four simplification strategies: capacity building of human resource apparatus, optimizing the utilization of IT, delegating authority, and synchronizing policies or regulations.

The next presentation was also from Indonesia, which focused on how to use policy analysts for better policies. Ms. Agit Kristiana contextualized her presentation to her home country, she shared the situation and complexity of policy development – thus justifying the need for policy analysts in government institutions. The expected functions and roles of a policy analyst is to conduct policy research and analysis (knowledge to knowledge), bridging knowledge to policy, and bringing this knowledge to communities. However, in her findings, she emphasized the lack of maximization in utilizing policy analysts in the country. Thus, she recommended that her institution, NIPA has to work with the Government Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform in order to take advantage of the policy analysts’ existence in order to further develop policy-making in Indonesia. 

The third presentation by Ms. Rosalina Yokomori of the University of the Philippines Diliman discusses regulatory governance done by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). Laguna Lake, the largest inland body of water in Luzon, is plagued by environmental concerns (pollution and health concerns), resource use (fishery productivity and illegal settlements around the lake) and jurisdictional overlaps, among others. Managing the lake, according to Yokomori, ought to involve stakeholders from government, private sector and the civil society.
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Dr. Paulito Nisperos and Ms. Anna Rose Lloren, meanwhile, looked into the situation of estate tax transfer in the Philippines, particularly in the Ilocos Region. The study explored the level of awareness on the documentary requirements of estate tax administration by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), assessors at the provincial, municipal and city levels and the Land Registration Authroity (LRA). It also delved on how much support is received from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) National office and the problems encountered in the process of transacting estate tax. While the authors emphasize the importance of tax transfer, results show that there was partial awareness by families and beneficiaries. At the same time, Lloren also shared that there is perceived inadequacy from the assistance given by BIR, thus the recommendation of having one stop shops with the joint effort of the concerned agencies to effectively process estate tax transfers.