ADMINISTRATIVE

CULTURE AND
POLITICAL CHANGE
Amelia Varela
I. INTRODUCTION
• Filipino cultural norms and values are carried by the
members into the Philippine bureaucracy and reflect
those of the culture of the society.
• Three major traits which highlight Filipino behavior
and decision-making:
1. Personalism
2. Familism
3. Particularism/Popularism
I. INTRODUCTION
• Other cultural values like pakikisama, hiya and
utang-na-loob become negative values.

WHY?
II. DIFFERENT FACES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CULTURE
1. The Culture of Patronage
• The political patronage impedes the positive and
institutionalization of the culture of merit in the
bureaucracy.
• Nepotism or favoritism.
• Padrino (political backer)
• It causes demoralization to civil service personnel.
• Politics of patronage.
II. DIFFERENT FACES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CULTURE
2. The Culture of Bureaucratic Mediocrity
• Revolves round the principle and system of merit
competence. For example, to pursue merit,
competence and performance, they remove
unqualified personnel and raise the passing grade in
examinations. But RA 6850 was passed.
• Includes a system of rewards and punishments in the
bureaucracy.
II. DIFFERENT FACES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CULTURE
2. The Culture of Bureaucratic Mediocrity
• The civil service personnel give the government what
is equivalent to the salaries they are receiving: the
mediocre work.
• Superior-subordinate relations.
II. DIFFERENT FACES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CULTURE
3. The Culture of Bureaucratic Ambiguity
• Rooted in the multiciplity of conflicting laws,
executive orders, judicial decisions, etc. which result
to unclear and constantly changing policies and rules.
• Can also be taken as a Filipino strategy in confronting
uncertainty.
II. DIFFERENT FACES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CULTURE
4. The Culture of Dualism
• Dualism in rewards and incentives.
• Dualism in bureaucratic justice.
• Dualism in retirement.
II. DIFFERENT FACES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CULTURE
5. The Culture of Graft and Corruption
• It has historical roots and antecedents.
1. Spanish period: could dispose of anything in it
through any means that he desired.
2. American period: after the grant of
independence, the administrative system was
placed in a tremendous pressure making in
vulnerable to graft and corruption.
3. Marcos era: violations of the principle and
system of merit and competence.
II. DIFFERENT FACES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CULTURE
5. The Culture of Graft and Corruption
4. Cory Aquino administration: the Filipino
administrative cultures still exist.
• Aquino government wanted to institutionalize the
anti-graft and corruption value in the bureaucracy,
but:
1. There was no convincing political will nor iron
hand in the campaign to eradicate graft and
corruption.
II. DIFFERENT FACES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CULTURE
5. The Culture of Graft and Corruption
2. Corrupt officials were given face-saving way
out, so the "big fishes" escaped the net.
3. The government was investigating but not
taking visible direct actions.
4. The grafters were still in place, even in high
positions.
5. Graft and corruption cannot be eradicated
because of utang-na-loob and pakikisama.
II. DIFFERENT FACES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CULTURE
5. The Culture of Graft and Corruption
6. Graft and corruption cannot be eradicated
since it is part of human nature.
• The counterculture against graft and corruption that
the Aquino administration suggested:
1. ethics and public accountability
2. openness and transparency
REFERENCE:
• Varela, Amelia. (1988). Administrative Culture and
Political Change. Manila: College of Public
Administration, University of the Philippines.