By Ronald Quilla Quinto

Public Policy and Program

Administration (MPA 203)
 Objectives

Identify the approaches of the policy

making process;

Discuss the different characteristics of

the policy making process;

Illustrate the models of the

policymaking process;

Identify and explain the different stages

of the policy making process in the
government.
What is Policymaking Process?
Charles Lindblom
❑ Policy making is a process of
successive approximation to
some desired objectives in
which what is desired itself
continues to change under
consideration
❑ Public policy is not made one
and for all; it made and remade
endlessly (Incrementalism)
James Anderson Maria Fe Mendoza
❑ Policymaking process is a
sequential pattern of activities ❑ Policymaking can be summed
or functions that can be readily up with the following core
distinguished analytically activities: problem,
although they may be alternatives, and solution
empirically more difficult to pull analysis-solution sequence.
apart.
❑ The sequential pattern of
activities includes problem
identification and agenda
setting, formulation,
adaptation, implementation ,
and evaluation.

Policymaking Process
Knowledge & Discourse
What is the policy narrative?
covers the initial stages of
policymaking process that begins
with identification of a societal
problem
Actors & Networks
Who are involved and how
they are connected?
Influence the various stages
of developing public policy
Politics & Interest
What are the underlying
power dynamics?
Policymaking process is a
network of actors competing
with one another
Approaches to
Institute of Development Studies
• Narratives in the process are
reinforced through
continuous sharing among
Actors
the different actors
and • Irrelevant narratives are
Networks discarded and unrelated
actors are discarded
Politics
Knowledge
and and
Interests discourse
• Analysis of the problem
• Public policy is inherently highly • Diagnosing its origin
political and highly contested in • Identifying the basic reasons
any given environment why the problem evolves to
• Due to differences in objectives become a threat in the society
 Characteristics of
Policymaking Process
Political Process 1
Incremental Process
2
Competing and 3
overlapping agenda
Value Judgment
Partnership between
4
policymakers and 5
technical experts
Exclusion at the
6 expense of others
 Policymaking Process Model
James Anderson
Policy Problem and Agenda Setting
Five Linear Stages A condition or situation that produces needs or
dissatisfaction among people and for which relief or
redress by government action is sought.

Policy Formulation
Involves developing pertinent and acceptable
proposed courses of action for dealing with public
problems

Policy Adoption
Involves the making of a policy decision in accepting
or rejecting a preferred course of action that is
developed by the different policymakers in the
government
Policy Implementation
Refers to the process on what happens after a bill
becomes a law

Policy Evaluation
Involves the estimation, appraisal, or assessment of a
policy, its content, implementation, goal attainment
or other effects.
 Levels of Policies
Professor Emmette Redford

Macropolitics Micropolitics Subsystem Politics

Policymaking at the Policymaking at the Policymaking at the
National Level Local Level Administrative Level
 Policymaking at the National Level
Macropolitics

Interaction of the three Significant participation

Primary Policy makers of unofficial policymakers

Typical Procedure Coverage/Content

• Legislative proposal • National Goals (AmBisyon 2040)
• Three stages (readings) • International targets (SDGs)
• President approval/veto • Institutional Reforms
• IRR by implementing agency • and other national concerns
Policymaking at the Local Level
Micropolitics
Local Structure
• Local Council
• Local Chief Executive
• A handful active interest
groups
Influence
• LCE – the influential force in
policymaking process
• Interest groups – less
influential
Procedure
• Proposed ordinance -
ordinance
• Will undergo the same three
readings
Content
• Control only those areas
delegated by the State
• Devolve functions
Policymaking at the Administrative Level
Subsystem Politics

Administrative Agencies
❑ Supplementary policymakers – can
provide an assessment of the results of
development efforts

❑ Bureaucratic discretion, much like

legislation, is part of the process of
deciding who gets what from the
government (Birkland).

❑ Rule-making – the legislative department

delegates its policymaking function to
selected administrative agencies
❑ Adjudication – the judicial department
authorizes agencies to apply existing laws
and act like a court
 Source

Bihasa, Carmelo Rico S. (2017). Understanding Public Policy:

Theories, Concepts and Application. Mandaluyong City:
Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.
THANK YOU