What is Policy?

• Key Features:

A policy is a stated course of action adopted and followed by 1. Specific to the Agency: Tailored to the goals,
an organization, government, or institution to guide decision- mission, and functions of the organization.
making and achieve specific goals. It serves as a framework for
2. Legally or Officially Adopted: Approved by the
addressing issues and solving problems systematically.
organization's board, legal authority, or
• Key Features: management.

1. Guidance: Policies provide a structured 3. Publicly Communicated: Made known to staff,

approach to decision-making. stakeholders, and, where applicable, the public.

2. Consistency: They ensure uniformity in 4. Operational Framework: Provides detailed

handling similar situations. instructions and rules to ensure compliance and
effective service delivery.
3. Goal-Oriented: Policies are designed to
accomplish specific objectives. • Example: A social welfare agency adopts a policy on
client confidentiality, outlining how client information
4. Proactive: They anticipate problems and
is to be collected, stored, and shared to protect privacy.
provide solutions in advance.

• Example: A school adopts a "No Bullying Policy" to

create a safe and inclusive environment for students.

What is Agency Policy?

An agency policy is a specific type of policy formally adopted

by a particular organization or agency. It serves as a written
statement to guide the provision of services, operations, and
activities within the agency.
The 8 stages of policy formulation (as outlined in your
document) provide a step-by-step process for developing and
3. Informing the Public About the Problem
implementing policies that address societal issues or
organizational goals. Here's a detailed explanation of each • What it means: The public and stakeholders are
stage: educated or made aware of the problem. This builds
awareness and often garners initial support for
potential policy solutions.
1. Identification of the Problem or Issue
• Example: Launching media campaigns, holding public
• What it means: This is the starting point where a consultations, or publishing reports to highlight the
specific issue or problem is recognized as requiring urgency of homelessness.
policy intervention. It involves determining the nature,
scope, and urgency of the problem.
4. Development of Policy Goals
• Example: Identifying a rise in urban homelessness as a
growing social concern that needs government action. • What it means: Clear, actionable goals are formulated
to address the identified problem. This stage often
involves the participation of other agencies or
2. Analysis of the Problem stakeholders to ensure inclusivity and feasibility.

• What it means: After identifying the problem, this • Example: Setting a goal to reduce homelessness by
stage involves thoroughly analyzing it to understand its 50% within five years by increasing affordable housing
causes, effects, and context. Data is collected and units and providing support services.
assessed to ensure the problem is well-defined and
evidence-based.
5. Building of Public Support
• Example: Conducting research to find out why
homelessness is increasing—lack of affordable housing, • What it means: Efforts are made to gain the support of
unemployment, mental health issues, etc. citizens, advocacy groups, and stakeholders for the
 proposed policy. Public engagement and consensus- • Example: Constructing affordable housing units,
building are crucial at this stage. providing subsidies to low-income families, and
deploying social workers to assist the homeless.
• Example: Hosting town hall meetings, partnering with
NGOs, and leveraging social media to explain the
benefits of the proposed housing policy.
8. Assessment and Evaluation

• What it means: The final stage focuses on measuring

6. Legislation or Enunciation of Policy the success of the policy. Data is collected to assess
whether the policy achieved its intended goals and
• What it means: The policy is formalized into laws,
identify areas for improvement.
executive orders, or official statements. This stage
often requires collaboration with lawmakers or • Example: Evaluating the decrease in homelessness
decision-makers to ensure legal and institutional rates and gathering feedback from beneficiaries to
backing. refine future housing programs.

• Example: Passing a law mandating funding for

affordable housing projects or declaring a government
Summary of the 8 Stages:
initiative to address homelessness.
1. Identify the Problem – Understand what needs to be
addressed.
7. Implementation and Administration
2. Analyze the Problem – Dig deeper into its causes and
• What it means: The policy is put into action. This effects.
involves mobilizing resources, assigning roles, and
3. Inform the Public – Raise awareness and encourage
ensuring the systems are in place to execute the policy
involvement.
effectively.
4. Develop Goals – Define clear objectives to solve the
problem.
 5. Build Public Support – Garner consensus and advocacy. o Engaging stakeholders and interest groups to
emphasize its urgency.
6. Legislate/Enunciate – Formalize the policy through
legal means. • Example: Recognizing a high rate of school dropouts
and adding it to the national education policy agenda.
7. Implement – Put the policy into action.

8. Evaluate – Assess outcomes and improve where

necessary. 2. Policy Formulation

This cyclical process ensures that policies are well-thought-out, • What it means: In this stage, potential solutions to the
supported, and effective in solving the issues they target. identified problem are developed. Policymakers draft
policy options and proposals, often consulting experts,
The policy-making cycle refers to the continuous process
stakeholders, and the public.
through which public policies are created, implemented,
evaluated, and modified. It ensures policies are responsive to • Key Activities:
public needs and adaptable to changing circumstances. Below
o Conducting research and cost-benefit analyses.
is a step-by-step explanation:
o Collaborating with relevant agencies and
experts.
1. Problem Identification and Agenda Setting
• Example: Proposing free public education, subsidies for
• What it means: This is the starting point where a school supplies, or conditional cash transfers to reduce
specific problem or issue is identified as needing dropouts.
government or organizational intervention. Once
identified, the issue is prioritized and added to the
policy agenda. 3. Policy Adoption

• Key Activities: • What it means: Decision-makers, such as legislators,

executives, or boards, formally adopt the policy. This
o Gathering data and evidence to define the
problem.
 may involve passing legislation, issuing executive
orders, or adopting regulations.
5. Policy Evaluation
• Key Activities:
• What it means: After implementation, the policy's
o Gaining political support and approval. effectiveness is assessed. This involves monitoring
outcomes, collecting data, and comparing results
o Negotiating and resolving conflicts among
against policy goals to determine whether the policy is
stakeholders.
working as intended.
• Example: A government enacts a law mandating free
• Key Activities:
education for all children up to secondary level.
o Conducting performance reviews and impact
assessments.
4. Policy Implementation
o Engaging stakeholders for feedback.
• What it means: The adopted policy is put into action.
• Example: Evaluating the decrease in dropout rates and
This involves allocating resources, assigning
identifying regions where the policy is less effective.
responsibilities, and ensuring administrative systems
are in place to carry out the policy.

• Key Activities: 6. Policy Revision (or Termination)

o Developing guidelines, procedures, and • What it means: Based on the evaluation, policymakers
operational frameworks. decide whether the policy needs to be revised,
replaced, or terminated. If the policy fails to achieve its
o Mobilizing personnel, resources, and
goals or new challenges arise, modifications are made.
infrastructure.
• Key Activities:
• Example: Hiring more teachers, constructing schools,
and distributing learning materials to implement the o Refining the policy based on lessons learned.
free education policy.
 o Addressing unintended consequences or 6. Policy Revision/Termination – Modify or discontinue
inefficiencies. the policy based on outcomes.

• Example: Adjusting the free education policy to include This structured cycle ensures policies are dynamic, evidence-
support for meals and transportation after evaluating based, and aligned with public needs.
barriers faced by low-income students.

Plan
Cycle Nature
A plan is a course of action designed to achieve a specific goal.
• The cycle is iterative: After revising or terminating a It serves as a roadmap for future activities and can be
policy, the process can restart with problem implemented now or at a predetermined time. A plan provides
identification as new issues arise or existing policies clarity on what needs to be done and how to achieve it.
need adjustments.
Planning

Planning is the process of anticipating goals and outlining the

Summary of the Policy-Making Cycle: steps, resources, and actions required to accomplish them. It
involves:
1. Problem Identification – Recognize issues and set
priorities. • Setting objectives: Determining what needs to be
achieved.
2. Policy Formulation – Draft potential solutions and
options. • Mapping activities: Creating a structured approach to
work toward the goals.
3. Policy Adoption – Approve and formalize the chosen
policy. • Projecting resources: Estimating the tools, materials,
and manpower required.
4. Policy Implementation – Execute and operationalize
the policy. Types of Plans

5. Policy Evaluation – Assess the policy’s effectiveness.

 1. Substantive Plan: Focuses on addressing program • Example: Imagine a government health agency
objectives and broad issues faced by the program. It developing a program to reduce child malnutrition:
centers on the content or subject matter of what the
o Substantive Plan:
program aims to achieve.
▪ Objective: Reduce child malnutrition by
Procedural Plan: Focuses on the operational framework and
20% in three years.
administrative mechanisms like rules, guidelines, and standard
procedures that ensure smooth implementation. ▪ Strategy: Conduct feeding programs,
provide nutritional education to parents,
Specific Explanation of Substantive Plan and Procedural Plan:
and implement community gardens.
Substantive Plan:
▪ Outcome: Improve children's health and
A substantive plan focuses on the content or purpose of a reduce stunting rates in targeted
program. It deals with the major issues or objectives that a regions.
program is designed to address. This type of plan is goal-
oriented and outlines the strategies to achieve the program's
intended outcomes. Procedural Plan:

• Key Characteristics: A procedural plan deals with the processes and mechanisms
required to implement a program. It is process-oriented and
o Focuses on what needs to be accomplished.
focuses on the administrative, operational, and structural
o Defines the goals, objectives, and target aspects needed to support the substantive plan. This includes
outcomes. establishing guidelines, rules, and systems to ensure the
effective implementation of the program.
o Provides a high-level approach to solving
problems or addressing issues. • Key Characteristics:

o Often deals with policy-level decisions or o Focuses on how objectives will be

program-specific results. accomplished.
 o Outlines the organizational structure, • Substantive Plan: Provide immediate food, water, and
workflows, and standard operating procedures medical aid to affected families in the aftermath of a
(SOPs). typhoon.

o Ensures that resources, reporting, and • Procedural Plan: Establish the logistics of distributing
monitoring systems are in place. supplies (e.g., creating delivery schedules, setting up
distribution points, and training volunteers on safety
• Example: Using the same government health program:
protocols).
o Procedural Plan:
Both plans are critical, as the substantive plan defines what
▪ Create guidelines for how feeding needs to be achieved, while the procedural plan ensures the
programs will be conducted (e.g., means and processes to achieve it effectively.
eligibility criteria, food distribution
protocols).
Program
▪ Establish SOPs for monitoring children's
growth and health. A program is a unit of planned purposive action. It represents a
structured collection of activities designed to achieve specific
▪ Set up reporting requirements for local
objectives within a defined scope. Programs often address a
health workers to track progress.
particular issue or provide a service.
▪ Ensure coordination among
Programming
stakeholders (e.g., local government
units, NGOs, and healthcare providers). Programming refers to the process of creating or setting up a
program. It involves:

• Defining the specific objectives.

Comparison Example:
• Allocating resources.
For a disaster relief program:
• Scheduling activities over a specific period to provide
services or achieve goals.
In summary:

• A plan outlines the what and how of achieving a goal.

• Planning is the process of creating this roadmap.

• A program is a structured set of actions created to

fulfill specific purposes.

• Programming is the detailed organization and

implementation of those actions.