Life Sciences Commons^™

Public Accountability In Regulatory Governance, Christine Mae D. Hernando,

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Assessing public accountability to improve public service delivery, local governance, and development has been an increasing global concern. The discourse and practice of accountability has been integrated in many disciplines such as public administration, political science, organizational development, and environmental management. But while some studies focus on accountability assessment in specific areas of public management and related concerns, the current academic literature of accountability reveals the paucity of studies on accountability assessment models in regulatory governance. This paper presents a review of relevant literature on public accountability, regulation and regulatory governance; issues and concerns affecting regulatory governance; and assessment perspectives …

Agroforestry Livelihood Strategies And Factors Influencing Agroforestry Adoption In Nakai Resettlement Villages, Khammouan Province, Lao Pdr, Khampasith Sengsouvan, Rowena Dt. Baconguis, Evelie P. Serrano, Ma. Lpurdes S. Edaño

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The study characterized the agroforestry livelihood strategies of resettled communities and the economic benefits associated with these, discussed the socio-economic factors associated with the adoption of the agroforestry livelihood strategies, and examined the agroforestry livelihood strategies in relation to perceived food sufficiency. Data gathering methods employed were survey, key informant interviews, and transect walk. Randomly selected adopters of agroforestry served as main respondents. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that adopters practiced five different agroforestry livelihood strategies. Rice (Oryza sativa)-based livelihood strategies assured farmers of rice supply, vegetable-based provided the highest income, and pineapple (Ananas comosus)-based …

Determinants Of Maternal Health Care Utilization In The Philippines: Implications On Information Dissemination Strategies, Nancy M. Landicho

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

From 2000 to 2017, maternal deaths in the Philippines considerably decreased. With COVID-19, the mechanisms to ensure safe pregnancy and childbirth for mothers have been greatly challenged. To find possible means by which women can access health care services remotely, the study looked into the factors affecting Filipino women’s utilization of maternal health care services using the 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey. Place of residence and employment status significantly affect the frequency by which women read newspaper or magazine, listen to the radio, and access the internet. Wealth status is the sole socio-demographic characteristic that has significant relationship …

Production And Marketing Of Indigenous Cash Crops: The Experience Of Women Farmer-Entrepreneurs In Mountain Province, Philippines, Joyce D. Cuyangoan

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This study focused on the production factors and marketing mix of five indigenous cash crops cultivated by 67 women farmer- entrepreneurs in the municipalities of Tadian and Lower Bauko in Mountain Province, Philippines. The study used descriptive statistics and applied profit analysis in the analysis of its findings. Results of this study show that the factors that limit the respondents’ production are limited access to transportation, rainfed irrigation, and limited access to agricultural inputs and loans. In marketing their produce, it was found that the respondents have limited knowledge on processing, packaging, labeling, promoting and financial record keeping. They can …

Diffusion And Adoption Of Green Super Rice Among Farmers In Selected Municipalities In Laguna, Philippines, Isabella Mari A. Jhocson, Rowena Dt. Baconguis

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The study investigated the uptake pathways of Green Super Rice (GSR) varieties in Mabitac and Sta. Maria, Laguna, Philippines. Green Super Rice are climate-smart varieties distributed to selected farmers in five municipalities in Laguna, Philippines in 2012. The distribution was a part of the 100 Farmers Project of an international organization in partnership with local government units. It should be noted, however, that no follow-up research on its adoption and uptake pathways has, thus far, been conducted. Thus, it is interesting to determine whether adoption and diffusion of the seeds occurred despite the unusual seed distribution process. The aim of …

Multidimensional Approach In Identifying Best Practices And Initiatives For Organic Agriculture Promotion In The Philippines, Marianne R. De Luna, Edna Luisa A. Matienzo, Myrna A. Tenorio

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Various efforts of different organizations to promote organic agriculture (OA) were being implemented even before the enactment of Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 in the Philippines. This paper used case studies to document and analyze best practices in OA promotion using a multidimensional approach. The case studies include: a) Provincial Initiative: Organic Village Model in Victorias City, Negros Occidental; b) Municipal Level Experience: Tublay, Benguet’s Program in Promoting and Implementing Organic Agriculture; and c) Private Sector Initiative: The Sta. Josefa Integrated Organic Farmers Association’s (SJIOFA) Experience in Implementing an Organic Agriculture Program. The case studies showcased a combination of strategies …

Knowledge And Practices On Family Development Of 4ps Beneficiaries In Camarines Sur, Philippines, Stanley O. Dy

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The study assessed the knowledge and practices on family development among the 4Ps beneficiaries in Camarines Sur. Research methods employed were survey, KIIs, and review of secondary data. The data gathered from the 169 randomly selected respondents were analyzed through descriptive statistics, particularly frequency, percentage, and mean. Most topics discussed during family development sessions relate to disaster risk reduction and management, according to 27% of the respondents. Other topics were on fire, gardening, barangay improvement, community, and nutrition. Almost all respondents indicated that the family development sessions (e.g., proper parenting) are effective, relevant, interesting, and are easy to apply. They …

Competition Issues In The Chicken Meat, Chicken Egg, And Pork Markets Of The Philippines, Cenon D. Elca, Prudenciano U. Gordoncillo, Charis Mae T. Neric, Janine P. Curibot

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This study probed the supply chains of the Philippine markets for chicken meat, chicken egg, and pork; and identified several competition issues that present or may potentially lead to violations of the Philippine Competition Act (PCA). In the chicken meat supply chain, vertical integration in the production segment through contract growing was found to likely lead to an oligopolistic market and possible abuse of dominant position, one of the prohibited acts under PCA. There were reports that such abuse may already be in play in its transportation and consolidation segments. The practice in livestock auction markets to simply formalize pre-arranged …

Overcoming Challenges In Earthquake Preparedness In Panay Island In The Philippines Through Good Governance, Ramil B. Atando

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Disaster risk reduction is a major concern especially among developing and underdeveloped countries. This case study reviewed the governance strategies in place to manage the potential impacts of a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Panay Island, which is home to more than 2 million inhabitants. National and local government offices engaged in disaster management provided the secondary data needed for this case study. Key informant interviews were conducted to collect salient information on governance strategies employed such as on fund sources and major players. Triangulation was employed to enhance the analysis and credibility of this research. Among the key findings is …

Organizational Identification Of Personnel During A Major Restructuring: The Case Of The Agricultural Training Institute, Andrew D. Gasmen, Rowena Dt. Baconguis, Maria Ana T. Quimbo

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Earlier studies found that extension organizations enjoy strong organizational identification (OID) among their personnel. However, organizational change often negatively impacts on personnel OID and subsequently on organizational performance. To explore these two contrasting views in the Philippine context, this study was conducted to examine the personnel OID of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the country’s lead extension agency, while undergoing rationalization. A survey was conducted among staff members of ATI Central Office and Region IV-A Training Center. Responses were analyzed along OID’s cognitive and affective components in different demographic and employment characteristics and comparatively in five categories of personnel. Results …

Gendered Relations And Time-Use: Perspectives From Selected Households Of Philippines’ Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program In Calauan And San Pablo City, Laguna, Maria Kristina G. Alinsunurin

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

On meeting education and health targets, conditional cash transfer programs are consistent with their intended development impacts. However, gendered outcomes remain to be in the periphery of the discourse. This paper aims to analyze the gender relations within cash transfer program households, focusing on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Through a time-use analysis approach and using qualitative information from in-depth household interviews and observations, the study examines how women grantees use their time and how this reflects gendered elements on intra-household relations. Results reveal that a) meeting program co-responsibilities have an impact on their household tasks, especially in supporting …

Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies And Entrepreneurial Intention Of Non-Business Students Enrolled In An Introductory Entrepreneurship Course, Gemma U. Reyes, Rachelle A. Mariano, Maria Noriza Q. Herrera, Nohreen Ethel P. Manipol, Jewel Joanna S. Cabardo

Journal of Economics, Management and Agricultural Development

The objectives of the study are two-fold. The first is to find out the relationship between the personal entrepreneurial competencies (PEC), as identified by Management Systems International, and the entrepreneurial intention of non-business students who are taking up an introductory entrepreneurship course. The second is to determine whether the entrepreneurial competencies of the students improved after taking the course. Using Spearman rank-order correlation, the study reveals that eight of the ten entrepreneurial competencies have a significant correlation with entrepreneurial intention although the relationship ranges only from moderate to weak. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was employed to test whether the post …

Improvement In Self-Assessed Knowledge And Changes In Farming System Practices Of Climate Field School Graduates In Bicol, Philippines, Ruth Anne T. Ruelos, Macrina G. Umali, Therese R. Olviga, Rubelyn S. Villa, Eliel Severino V. Jacobo, Merylyne M. Paunlagui, Agnes C. Rola

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Rainfed lowland and upland farmers have less access to new technologies especially those that would reduce their vulnerability to climate change. In the Philippines, the Philippine Rice Research Institute developed a package of technology called “Palayamanan” that is suited to rainfed sites. This paper presents the results of the study that disseminated the Palayamanan technology through the climate field school (CFS) in rainfed areas in Bicol. Thirty-eight farmers from two barangays of Pamplona, Camarines Sur, and 78 farmers from three barangays of Milagros, Masbate were the respondents. A five-point scale was used to self-assess farmers’ knowledge on topics discussed in …

Efficiency And Effectiveness Of The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation’S Rice Crop Insurance Program: The Case Of Laguna Province, Philippines, Armand Christopher C. Rola, Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The performance of the Rice Crop Insurance Program (RCIP) of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) was assessed to explain the low number of insured farmers and suggest ways to improve the program’s efficiency and effectiveness. Documents were reviewed and primary data were collected through survey of participating rice farmers and key informant interview of the officers and staff of PCIC Region 4 and National Irrigation Administration Region IV Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (NEMCO). Descriptive statistics, gap analysis, and Likert scale scoring were used in data analysis. Results of the study revealed gaps in enrollment in the program, duration of filing …

Decentralization, The Internal Revenue Allotment, And Shared Growth: An Examination Of Correlations, Ferdinand C. Maquito

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This is a macro study on the role of internal revenue allotments in decentralization to help the Philippines achieve shared growth. The research attempted to answer two interrelated development policy questions: 1) has the Philippines achieved shared growth; and 2) does the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) have the potential of contributing to shared growth? Patterns of correlation were distilled from available provincial as well as national data on average income, poverty incidence, income distribution, and IRA. Correlation analysis for the second question was supplemented with an analysis of the IRA formula. Results showed that growth in the Philippines has been …

Policy And Institutional Challenges In Climate Information Services Provisioning In Philippine Agriculture, Dulce D. Elazegui, Agnes C. Rola, Roger A. Luyun, Nico Jayson C. Anastacio, Francis John F. Faderogao, Maria Cristina A. Alvarez

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Current and immediate information about the increasingly unpredictable weather conditions are needed to augment conventional knowledge in local communities. Policy analysis on climate information services (CIS) provisioning in the agriculture sector is vital and warranted. This paper describes the global and national CIS policies as well as the institutions involved in provisioning through the characterization of pathways from data generation to dissemination. Further, it identifies the various intermediary users of the CIS and how CIS are ultimately disseminated to the municipal agricultural offices and the farmers. Secondary data sources were searched. Primary data were gathered through key informant interviews. Qualitative …

Tqm/Iso 9001 Implementation In Northern And Central Luzon State Universities, Patrick C. De Leon

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This case study was conducted to investigate why and how the TQM/ISO 9001 programs were adopted in state universities in the Philippines such as Pangasinan State University, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, and Central Luzon State University; what TQM and ISO 9001 meant to them; and what factors affected TQM/ISO 9001 implementation in their universities. The study found that TQM/ ISO 9001 programs were intended to streamline work processes and improve the quality of services. Implementation involved the hiring of a consultant, conducting trainings, preparing and using a QMS manual, organizing internal and external audits, and receiving ISO …

Farmers’ Perception On The Health And Environmental Benefits Of Organic Rice Production In The Philippines: Implications For Further Policy Research, Guinevere T. Madlangbayan, Agnes C. Rola

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Conventional rice production with the use of chemicals was found to have negative externalities both to the farmers’ health and the farming environment. Organic agriculture technologies were developed to minimize such impacts. This paper explores the empirical support of the health and environmental benefits of organic agriculture by generating data from a survey of rice farmers and focus group discussions in rice farming communities. The respondents came from rice farming areas in the country where early adoptors of the organic rice farming system were located. The results of the analysis suggest that farmers fail to recognize the relationship between the …

Community Capitals Management For Household Well-Being: Case Studies In Two Communities In Surin And Buriram Provinces, Thailand, Itthirit Suwannakam, Josefina T. Dizon

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This study was conducted in two villages in Thailand, Nongtakhem in Buriram province and Somboon in Surin province. It analyzed the community capitals management for household wellbeing. Data were gathered through household survey, key informant interviews, field observation, and review of related data. For the survey, 64 households were selected from Nongtakhem and 54 households from Somboon through simple random sampling. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used in the data analysis. Findings show that both villages practiced all the community capitals management strategies (group membership, family planning, sufficiency economy, savings plan, household accounting, and secondary occupation) except family forest management, …

Toward Building Collaborative Capacity: Assessment Of Service Delivery In Makati Homeville, Laguna, Philippines, Christie C. Amores, Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This study assessed the service delivery in Makati Homeville (MH), Calauan in Laguna, Philippines. Specifically, it analyzed the perceived strength of the collaborative capacity of the Makati Social Welfare and Development-Extension Office (MSWD-EO) in the areas of accountability, outcomes, delivery and alignment, and proposed mechanisms by which service delivery can be scaled up to ensure sustainability. The Collaborate and United Nations Development Programme's Collaborative Capacity Framework was adopted to examine key areas of public service delivery where collaboration could be strengthened to ensure better outcomes. The perceived strength was measured by computing the mean scores of respondents' numerical rating for …

Collaboration Among Stakeholders: Key To The Organic Agriculture Movement In Negros Occidental, Andrew D. Gasmen, Rowena Dt. Baconguis

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The organic agriculture movement in Negros Occidental can be traced back in the 1970s through the advocacy of the civil society. The movement received significant push when the local government issued policies and formulated programs that supported organic agriculture, and further, when the private sector supported the marketing of the produce. This paper explores collaboration among organic practitioners, government agencies, and the private sector as well as their interactions that significantly advanced organic agriculture. The research is an intrinsic case study as it investigates organic agriculture through in-depth data collection involving multiple sources of information. Results show patterns of interaction …

Double Difference Approach To Impact Evaluation: Case Of The Effects Of The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) On Poverty, Prudenciano U. Gordoncillo

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of the Philippines has been one of the major programs of the government since its implementation in 1988. Over the years, a considerable amount of financial resources has been spent for the program that an impact evaluation is merited. Studies have established the impact of the program on some outcome variables like income and poverty. However, the studies done were limited to either a temporal comparison between the period before and after the program or a comparison between the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the program. This study explored the double difference approach to verify the …

Household Resources And Practices Toward Native Rice Sufficiency In Khoune District, Xiengkhouang Province, Lao Pdr, Kolakanh Chanthavongsa, Josefina T. Dizon, Maria Ana T. Quimbo, Mayo Grace C. Amit

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

A case study was conducted in Na-Ou and Xang villages in Khoune district, Xiengkhouang province, Lao PDR to discuss the households’ resources and practices in attaining native rice sufficiency. Data were gathered through a combination of methods that included a survey of 91 households, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, actual field observations, and secondary data analysis. The study villages are largely rural, popular nationwide for their native sticky rice varieties, and regarded as models in native sticky rice production. There are also areas of wetland for rice cultivation that are suited to grow the age-old native sticky rice varieties. …

Farmer Field School As An Effective Approach In Increasing Farmers’ Knowledge, Skills, And Practices, And In Enhancing Diffusion Of Innovations: Evidences From Selected Rice Farmers In Masalasa, Victoria, Tarlac, Philippines, Glenn Y. Ilar

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The study assessed the effectiveness of the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach in increasing the knowledge, skills, and practices of selected rice farmers in Barangay Masalasa, Victoria, Tarlac in the Philippines as well as the diffusion of innovations among them. Empirical evidences were obtained from the 24 farmers who attended the FFS on PalayCheck System and 24 non-participating farmers serving as the control group. The FFS provided farmers with new knowledge and skills on the whole PalayCheck System as demonstrated by the FFS graduates having more knowledge on the PalayCheck component-technologies as compared with non-FFS farmers. All the FFS farmers …

Comparative Analysis Of The National And Communal Irrigation Systems’ Water Governance: The Philippines Case, Miriam R. Nguyen, Agnes C. Rola, Rosalie A. Hall, Corazon L. Abansi, Myra E. David

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Using Saleth and Dinar’s water governance framework, the study characterized irrigators’ associations and examined how they operate and how they are managed. A total of 128 association presidents were surveyed in ten provinces in the Philippines and were asked about their knowledge and perception on the organization, natural resource policies, and water status in the locality.

The National Irrigation Systems (NIS) still has a formal structure as influenced by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), but it is assuming the characteristics of the Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS) management because of the paradigm shift to participatory irrigation management. The CIS, on the …

Addressing Food Security: Saba Banana And Rootcrops As Alternative Food Staples To Rice In Quezon Province, Philippines, Isabelita M. Pabuayon, Blanquita R. Pantoja, Anselma C. Manila, Mac Lorenz C. Santos

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The Philippines considers rice self-sufficiency as vital to food security; hence, possible alternative food staples are being identified in case of persistent shortfalls in domestic rice production. This paper explores the potential of Saba (cardava) banana, sweet potato, potato, yam, and cassava as alternative staples for the local communities in the Quezon province, Philippines, which grow all these crops. Socioeconomic surveys of 375 farmers, 82 traders, and 625 consumers were conducted in 2013 but covered crop year 2012. Results showed that Saba banana, sweet potato, and cassava had the highest demand among the five crops based on per capita consumption. …

Operational Policy Needs For Organic Agriculture Expansion In The Philippines: Focus On Vegetables, Agnes C. Rola, Blanquita R. Pantoja, Agnes R. Chupungco, Miriam R. Nguyen, Jaine C. Reyes, Guinevere T. Madlangbayan, Macrina G. Umali, Susan S. Guiaya, Eldy Z. Martinez, Gerdino G. Badayos

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

In 2010, the Philippines passed a law (Republic Act No. 10068) to support the expansion of organic agriculture (OA) in the country, with a goal of 5 percent of total production area being devoted to this technology. Available data show that in 2012, only about 0.7 percent of the agricultural land area in the country was devoted to OA production. While several other administrative orders supported the law, there seems to be a need to understand the processes to operationalize the said law.

This paper analyzed the production, marketing, and consumption issues surrounding the organic vegetable industry to come up …

Implications Of The Forest Charges Law To Rattan-Based Livelihoods Of Indigenous Peoples Of The Philippines, Vince Michael A. Docta, Ramon A. Razal

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This policy research investigated the question: "What are the implications of Republic Act 7161 (or the Forest Charges Law) as it is interpreted, imposed, and implemented towards sustainable rattan-based livelihoods of indigenous peoples (IP) communities in the Philippines?" An in-depth review and analysis of the Act was undertaken by examining the past policies, relevant administrative orders, and memorandum circulars issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and relevant forerunner agencies. The policy performance of forest charges via-a-vis collection and resource conservation targets and the perceptions of the IP communities towards RA 7161 were assessed. Results provide evidence …

Assessment Of Organizations As Catalysts For Community Development: An Application Of The Multinomial Logit Model, Prudenciano U. Gordoncillo, Merlyne M. Paunlagui

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Agrarian Reform Communities or ARCs are clusters of land reformed barangays primarily composed and managed by Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries who are willing to be organized and undertake the integrated development of an area and/or their organizations/cooperatives. Organizations serve as channel for support services such as credit, marketing support, and training programs. To measure the level of development of ARCs, the Department of Agrarian Reform developed a quantitative assessment tool known as the ARC Level of Development Assessment (ALDA). This paper used the data drawn from a survey of cooperatives in the ARCs in selected provinces of MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western …

Towards Sustainable Communities And Human Security: Challenges Of The College Of Public Affairs And Development University Of The Philippines Los Baños, Agnes C. Rola, Josefina T. Dizon, Maria Ana T. Quimbo, Wilfredo B. Carada

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The College of Public Affairs (CPAf) in the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) evolved as a unit of the University with the mandate to raise the bar of applied social science scholarship by developing transdisciplinary methods in the resolution of public issues such as food security, land reform and land use, governance, population, and education. The creation of CPAf in 1998 was prompted “by the need to attune academic programs in the pursuit of UP’s mission to promote nationalism and development in the face of profound changes occurring in the global environment.” In 2011, it was renamed as …