JULIUS Y BERNADOS
[email protected]
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292
INSTITUTING THE "ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987"
July 25, 1987
Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987,
is the basic law governing the organization and structure of the national government
which lays down the basic policies and the systems and procedure by which the
organization and operation of the bureaucracy are to be based, including the personnel
administration aspect.
The Administrative Code "incorporates in a unified document the major structural,
functional and procedural principles and rules of governance." Its primary function is to
prescribe the standards, guidelines and practices within the executive branch of
government.
The Philippine Administrative System is dynamic, shaped and evolved through
time. From Spanish colonial period to the present administration, the mode of
bureaucracy is adopted, patterned and improved depending on the needs and wants
of the administration. Needs, in terms of the welfare of the society.
The Republic of the Philippines is a constitutional democracy, with the President
as head of state. The Philippine Constitution is the fundamental basis of the laws of the
land. The country has had several Constitutions, but the current one was adopted
through a nationwide plebiscite in 1987. It is supported by other laws, such as the Civil
Code, the Labor Code, the Omnibus Investments Code, and the National Internal
Revenue Code, as well as by rules and regulations passed by government bodies. The
latter include rulings, letters or instructions, circulars, memoranda, administrative orders,
judicial orders, and pronouncements, as well as laws adopted by local government
within the scope of the Constitution. There are approaches taking within its purview all
aspects of administrative activities. The goal is to find out and enunciate the principles
or ideals underlying these activities. Administrative behavior is part of behavioral
sciences and the study of public administration cannot be complete without the study of
individual and collective human behavior in administrative situations. These approaches
made more sense and had greater relevance than other approaches as it took into
consideration the fact that political, social, economic and psychological environments
have effect on human motivation and which ultimately has an effect on the work output
of an individual.
Challenges and issues most likely encountered by the Government in instituting
the administrative code is the different forms corruption, is it the use of powers by
government officials for personal gain. An illegal act by an officeholder constitutes
corruption only if the act is directly related to their official duties, is done under color of law
or involves trading in influence. (Wikipedia). This word states all the problems of the
nation. It means a lot for Filipinos are experiencing the damage and the impact of
corruption some of this is the lack of transparency and accountability in public office,
Weak actual protection of the human rights of vulnerable groups (women, children,
minorities, journalists, political activists) and polarization between the few who are
wealthy and the many who are poor the differences between individuals should be
acknowledged and respected. This means that a just government has an obligation to
protect people's freedom to exercise their differing abilities and faculties, and also to
protect the property they accumulate as a result — even if these holdings vary widely.
The challenge is better governance, how to make government more effective in
meeting the nation’s aspirations? Economic development – how to ensure that
economic growth also benefits the poorer classes, Minority rights – how to ensure multi-
ethnicity and pluralism for religious and ethnic minorities and De-concentration of power
– how to reduce the considerable power of the political and economic elites and give
more actual power to the people.
This situation showed that the way administration is conducted is influenced by
human sentiments, presumption biases and perceptions, which many of us may have
experienced first-hand during our interaction with government organizations and public
administrators. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the
people, serve them with the utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act
with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.
