1. Bureaucracy and
Philippine
Government
By: PO2 Mark Anthony C Marquez
Proponent

3. I. Basic Concept of Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
•Is a specific form of social organization for
administrative purposes.
•Is reflected in certain specific forms of organizational
behavior: hierarchy, subdivision, specialization, fixed
ways of doing things, and professionalization.
•Is that type of hierarchical organization which is
designed rationally to coordinate the work of many
individuals in pursuing a large-scale administrative task.

4. II. Characteristics of Philippine Bureaucracy
•Vulnerability to nepotism - favoring of relatives or friends, especially by
giving them jobs.
•Perpetuation of the spoils system – The passage of Civil Service Law
(C.A. No. 177, as amended by R.A. 144) has set up, besides classified
service, unclassified and temporary positions which have become
convenient instruments for the practice of nepotism, of patronage, and of
influence peddling (promote an idea or view persistently or widely).
•Apathetic public reaction to bureaucratic misconduct – The people
looked upon the phenomenon as a associated result of the increasing
complexity of the government, a method of political harassment and a
natural way of fulfilling political promises to the unemployed and
underemployed segments of the population.
•Availability of external peaceful means of correcting bureaucracy –
Devices, such as constitutional rights and privileges – freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, civic action – have been
used for rectifying the defects and misdeeds of bureaucracy.

5. Spanish Bureaucracy – was administered according to a Civil Service
Law which served as scapegoat of the weaknesses of Philippine
Political Bureaucracy.
•American Bureaucracy – also served as scapegoat of the weaknesses
of Philippine Political Bureaucracy.
•Nonspecial typing of bureaucrats – Filipino bureaucrats do not comprise
a clearcut social class, thus Filipino Bureaucratic Organization consists of
person with varied family background, aspirations, educational training
and work experiences.
•Lack of independence from politics – merit system was easily attacked
and tampered by politicians because of the absence of “class
consciousness” and of a feeling of unity on the part of the Filipino
bureaucrats.
•Essential instruments of social change – Philippine Bureaucracy’s
function in nation- building will be as big, as complicated, and as
demanding as the function of the whole society itself, in spite of its
weaknesses, it will have to be a tool for innovations.

6. •Lack of independence from politics – merit system was easily attacked
and tampered by politicians because of the absence of “class
consciousness” and of a feeling of unity on the part of the Filipino
bureaucrats.
•Essential instruments of social change – Philippine Bureaucracy’s
function in nation- building will be as big, as complicated, and as
demanding as the function of the whole society itself, in spite of its
weaknesses, it will have to be a tool for innovations.

7. III. Philippine Bureaucratic Behavior :
•Conformity to policies – bureaucracy stresses unquestioning compliance
to organizational policies, rules and regulations.
e.g.: The Filipino is Authoritarian. When power is given to him, he
makes known to everyone that he is the boss.
•Preference toward continuity and routinization – bureaucracy puts much
emphasis on specialization hence, there is a general preference for the
bureaucrats to maitain the status quo (existing state of affairs) in the
organization.
•Loss of self-direction or self assertion –The Filipino bureaucrats tend to
submerge themselves into a collective mode of decision-making and
responsibility that defines bureaucratic structure.

8. III. Philippine Bureaucratic Behavior :
e.g.: patience (tiyaga) in accepting and bearing
consequences of difficulties in their lives which may
or may not involve hardwork that involves deep
abiding faith that supernatural spirits will, in the long
run, reward them with good fortune for their patience
and endurance of difficulties.
•Politically Supportive – the bureaucratic system in the
Philippines tend to support the political party in power. The
Filipinos are status oriented. Authority figures determine, to
a large extent, the satisfaction or frustration of the Filipino’s
aspiration for social acceptance, economic security and
social mobility.

9. Summary:
Structurally, the government is a bureaucracy. Over the
years, bureaucracy has become the dominant form of
organization in modern societies.
Very often, bureaucracy is used in a negative manner
of its failure to produce the organizational results with
adequate efficiency.
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The observance of the classical principles of
organization produces bureaucracy. However, this requires
certain conditions for its development.
The increasingly complex organization can be
simplified by breaking down its component parts into simple
manageable structure. As a result, Weber’s bureaucracy was
institutionalized.

10. Summary:
Organizations are not alike. Yet, when all differences
are taken into consideration, many common elements stand
out. Basically, they are all bureaucratic organizations.
By simplifying its complex organizational structures, it is
expected that a bureaucracy will attain its goals of efficiency,
economy, and greater reliability in producing its outputs.
As a social organization, bureaucracy has strong as
well as weak points. In spite of some negative characteristics,
it still the only systematized method of carrying out the vital
tasks of institution. Moreover, there are possible solutions to
the problems. Each solutions represent a distinct method of
improving its personnel administration.

11. End of presentation.
Thank You!