Philippine Politics and Governance - Lesson 2: Governance

Introduction to Governance

• Governance: All actions and activities related to governing.
• Involves interaction and decision-making among policymakers, public officials, and citizens.
• Exercise of power/authority by political leaders for the well-being of their citizens.
• Implementation of policies and programs across various governmental institutions (local to national levels).

Importance of Studying Governance

• Helps citizens understand and fight for their rights.
• Enables recognition of government lapses and misgivings, empowering citizens to exercise their rights.
• Promotes continued empowerment and sustainable development.
• Increases awareness of what to expect from government processes and actors.

Processes and Actors in Governance

Decision Making and Implementation

• Decision Making: Process guided by socio-political structures to address individual and communal needs and wants.
  • Executives or higher-ranking officials typically make significant decisions.
• Implementation: Follows decision-making; involves specific procedures to implement policies or programs.
  • Governed by a detailed process proposed, heard, and decided upon by the governing body.

Actors and Structures

• Actors: Sectors, groups, or institutions involved in decision-making and implementation.
  • Includes executives and their personnel.
  • Citizens become actors in nationwide programs.
• Structure: Organization or mechanism that guides the decision-making process and sets actors into motion.
  • Hierarchical organization with a committee or board and staff.
  • Dictates relationships and roles of actors within an organization.

Informal Actors and Bad Governance

• Informal Actors: Influential individuals or groups (e.g., crime syndicates, powerful families, political dynasties, non-profit leaders).
  • Can disrupt governance due to illegal and private interests.
  • Example: Organized crime syndicates involved in human trafficking.
• Bad Governance: Occurs when public officials or agencies engage in illegal activities with these entities.
  • Leads to corruption and widespread organized violence in the community.

Conclusion

• This lesson focused on understanding governance, decision-making/implementation, and the impact of informal actors on governance.
• Next lesson: Relationship between government, politics, and governance.