LIBERALISM:

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF

THREE PHILIPPINE

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Dyan M. de Dios, RND

MPA 503 – Philosophy of Public Management

September 12, 2020

 LIBERALISM: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THREE PHILIPPINE

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

I. INTRODUCTION

What are the boundaries of our freedom? Does it give us the

absolute peace that we need or it will only just create chaos towards

our society? At the end of this topic, we will be enlightened on the

essence of liberalism.

Liberalism took off due to the oppressive system of governance

towards the people especially during the 17th – 18th century.

According to Britannica, Liberalism is defined as a political doctrine

that takes to protect and enhance the freedom of the individual to be

the central problem of politics.

The founding fathers of liberalism were the English philosopher

John Locke, who developed a theory of political authority based on

natural individual rights and the consent of the governed, and the

Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith, who argued that

societies prosper when individuals are free to pursue their self-interest

within an economic system based on private ownership of the means

of production and competitive markets, controlled neither by the state

nor by private monopolies.

It is typically believed that government is necessary to protect

individuals from being harmed by others, but they also recognize that
 the government itself can pose a threat to liberty. The problem, then, is

to devise a system that gives the government the power necessary to

protect individual liberty but also prevents those who govern from

abusing that power.

II. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

An individual has inherent worth and dignity, freedom to choose,

and a right to pursue happiness. Liberalism is a political and moral

ideology based on the equality and liberty of people. Modern liberalism

focuses on protecting the rights of people, promote economic activities,

protect the environment, and enhance the freedom of individuals.

Inherently, liberalism has a positive connotation to individuals as, first,

it promotes economic growth with less government regulation to

inhibit business growth which businesses become productive and

innovative thus promoting economic growth. Second, it eliminates

slavery since liberalism ensures that individuals could live in a country

that is free from injustices and slavery. It results in a stable

economy with fewer risks of recession and less wealth disparity. Many

people can obtain an adequate amount of income with fewer people

becoming richer. It also ensures a few regulations and promotes

individual liberty. Having a few restrictions on minimum wage

enables companies or institutions to set up their wages which makes

them competitive in the marketplace. Liberalism secures the

protection and preservation of individual rights; which equal

opportunities are given regardless of gender, status, or age. The so-

called Liberals ensure government involvement in the conservation

of the environment and promote opportunities to the citizens.

Liberalism promotes peace and harmony among countries, which

creates international harmony and cooperation. 

On the other hand, this liberalism has also its limitations and

negative effect on society and in the economy. Firstly, it restricts the

minimum wage rate which some companies or institutions pay fewer

wages that cannot cover the cost of living. This also inhibits

consumerism. Secondly, liberalism results in over-

dependence or over-reliance on the government in achieving the

social, economic, political, and personal needs of individuals in the

country. On top of that, the government receives a lot of critics that

it commits into a lot of expensive programs that yield unintended

consequences and create more social problems than it addresses. Too

much reliance on government support, citizens tend to choose to be

unemployed as the extensive social protection program can already

sustain the daily needs of the people which in other way, affect the

overall economy of the country. Furthermore, the excessive use of

liberty creates morality issues towards other individuals. Emphasis on

human rights and freedom of choice/speech affects the inherent

restrictions and influences their changing characters. 

 Hence, liberty of the individual should be exercised cautiously and wisely given its inherent limitations

to the society and economy.

III. COMPARATIVE STUDY

Given the above philosophy about liberalism, in this tabular presentation, it will give a comparison of

the chosen Philippine Government agencies in the application of this said philosophy.

DENR VSMMC
NAPOLCOM (Department of Environment DepEd (Vicente Sotto Memorial
(National Police Commission) and (Department of Education)
Medical Center)
PHILOSOPHY Natural Resources)
Liberalism Employees are given Employees and the Teachers have an Even with provided
the liberty to freely management equal distribution of and established
express their conducts emergency workload of subjects policies and
suggestions which meetings and/or to teach. Through procedures,
helps improve their monthly meetings as monthly meetings, employees are
agency through weekly a system of their employees are given practicing their
recapitulation activity checks and balances ample time to liberty to freely
and monthly unit on the policies and express his/her express their ideas
meetings. In terms of procedures of the freedom to do what and suggestions
the employees’ choice department and also they think is best to for the
in their career common issues and teach in the improvement of
improvements, such concerns arise within classroom. Teachers the agency.
as studying for law the agency. are provided the Patients and their
school or master's Suggestions in terms liberty to manage and significant others
degrees, the of a change in policy systematized their that are admitted
management is willing internally are open. classroom yet still to the hospital can
to negotiate as long as Superiors are highly uphold the policies practice their
the working schedule open to suggestions and procedures of freedom in a way
will not be hampered as to how work is the agency. Despite that they can ask
or compromised by done in a better the strict for favors in many
their school’s manner as long as implementation of different aspects.
schedule. such an opinion is policies, with the Despite the strict
accepted by the increasing demand implementation of
majority. Employees for work, teachers the hospital policy
who desire for a and other employees regarding the one
better career path still able to create S.O policy per
improvements are strategies that can patient, the
even offered by the help them simply patients are given
agency such as study adopt the policies. On the chance to have
abroad courses and the other hand, most a maximum of two
student loans are of the teachers teach S.O’s considering
granted. subjects that are far the medical
They also have an from their condition of the
equal distribution of specialization during patient. On the
tasks and workload in their undergraduate other hand, given
accordance with their studies just to meet the above
appointed position. the standards of the discretion, most of
In terms of any institution, hence, the S.O’s tend to
differences in the they are obliged to be take advantage
work environment, flexible in learning and over-
mostly such certain subjects to dependent to it.
differences are sorted help ease the
out in a meeting. And institution’s inability to
as practiced, every provide enough
employee is willing to teachers.
pave a way for the
employee who needs
certain adjustments
such as Muslim
employees are
granted special
exemptions even
during working hours
for them to fully pray
especially on special
Muslim days
 celebration.

In conclusion, it is clear that the liberal concept of the rule of law conforms to the basis that liberalism

itself rests on: protection of the individual but the prevalence of other constitutional doctrines such as

governmental rule and separation of powers affects the application of the rule of law. With the

established laws, policies, and procedures in the different government agencies, individuals need to

check and balance the liberty they are provided with.

IV. PHILOSOPHY APPLICABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT

A philosophy that I have come up with and created, that can be

applied in our department is “resilientism”. “Resilientism” comes from

the word “resilient” which according to Merriam-Webster means able to

withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

In the department that I belong to, which is the Nutrition and

Dietetics Service of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, we

experienced a lot of stumbling blocks that hindered our services

towards our patients or clients especially at this time of the pandemic.

We were able to build strong connections and relationships with our

co-workers and with the management, through proper and open

communication which I think is the essential part of continued service

and care to our patients and stakeholders. Social support within our

working environment plays an important role in workplace resilience. It

is beneficial to develop personally as well as professional networks,

which can be a source of guidance and support during times of stress

or simply to provide a nurturing relationship.

V. REFERENCES

https://www.britannica.com/topic/liberalism

https://www.prosancons.com/politics/pros-and-cons-of-liberalism/

https://www.mindmeister.com/672593807/growth-of-liberalism-timeline

All Answers Ltd. (November 2018). The Concept of Liberalism.

Retrieved from https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-

essays/administrative-law/the-concept-of-liberalism-administrative-law-

essay.php?vref=1

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resilient

https://www.napolcom.gov.ph/

https://www.deped.gov.ph/

https://www.denr.gov.ph/