UNITS AND FORMS OF ORGANIZATION

LINE, STAFF, AND AUXILLIARY AGENCIES

UNITS AND FORMS OF ORGANIZATION
 This topic is a follow-up of what we discussed last meeting
“The Principles of Organization” where we talked about
hierarchy, unity of command, span of control, delegation,
coordination, and communication.
 It is not just difficult but impossible for a single man to
carry out all the administrative responsibility single
handedly. Any leader requires a body of people whom he
can direct and lead to achieve the desired goals of the
organization. There are too many functions, too diversified
knowledge and too many things to think about which is
difficult for a single leader to encompass. Hence, we are
here to discuss about the Units and Forms of Organization:
Line, Staff, and Auxiliary Agencies.
LINE AGENCIES
They are the backbone of
administrative machinery. It
signifies an unbroken vertical
line through which authority
flows from the top to the
bottom of organization.
They are the principal agencies
which are organized on the
basis of major substantive
purpose, and are concerned
with the provision of services
for the people, or regulating
their conduct in particular
fields. They are concerned with
the primary objects for which
government exists.
 Functions of Line Agencies
 Policy formulating and decision making
 Directing policies and operations
 Preparation and implementation of plan
 Command, control, and supervision
 Features of Line Agencies
 Under Direct Control of the Chief Executive
 Accountability
 Direct Contact with People
 Execution of Programs
 Public Relation
 Types of Line Agencies
 Department
 Public Corporation
 Independent Regulatory Commissions
  Department is the largest and most prevalent form
of administrative organization. A homogeneous unit
where work is concentrating immediately below the
Chief Executive into which entire work of the
government is divided.
 Department is a basic organizational unit of
1. DEPARTMENT administration and are responsible for carrying out
or performing the major government functions.
 According to DBM-CSC, a Department is the
primary subdivision of the Executive Branch
responsible for the overall management of a sector
or a permanent national concern with nationwide or
international impact.
COMPOSITION OF A DEPARTMENT
The organization of a Department
is composed of the Office of the
Secretary (OSec), bureaus,
services, and field units. A
Department may have agencies
attached to it (for policy/program
coordination) or under its
administrative supervision. Its
bureaus, services, and/or field
units may have divisions.

In general, field units smaller than

a regional office shall no longer
have subdivisions.
  Public Corporation is the second type of line agency; an
organizational device imported in public administration
from private business administration.
 According to Herbert Morrison, Public Corporation is “a
combination of public ownership, public accountability,
and business management.” So it becomes obvious that
public corporation is owned by government having
2. PUBLIC autonomy in financial and operational matters. It performs
CORPORATION managerial, industrial, commercial, and financial types of
functions.
 In the Philippines, we have the Government-Owned and
Controlled Corporations (GOCC). “Public Corporations
are those formed or organized for the government of a
portion of the state. They are formed to purpose the general
good and welfare.” (Act No. 1459, Sec. 3). There are over
200 GOCCs as of 2020. They conduct both commercial
and non-commercial activity.
COMPOSITION OF A PUBLIC CORPORATION
Public Corporations are established by law passed
by the legislature of states. This law defines its
powers, duties, responsibilities and immunities
and prescribes the form of management and its
relationships with established departments. Being
a body corporate, it enjoys a separate legal entity.
They enjoy autonomy in financial matters and
their main aim is to be self reliant in financial
matters.

The chief motive of Public Corporation is to

provide service to people. It is not guided solely
by profit motive. Profit making is secondary
purpose of Public Corporation.
EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC CORPORATIONS (GOCC) IN THE
PHILIPPINES

Development Bank of the Philippine Girl Scouts of the Philippines Philippine Economic Zone Authori Metropolitan Manila Development
s  (GSP) ty Authority
 (DBP)  (PEZA)  (MMDA)
Home Development Mutual Fund
Government Service Insurance Syst  (HDMF/Pag-IBIG) People's Television Network, Inc. Metropolitan Waterworks and Sew
em (PTV-4) erage System
 (GSIS) Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp  (MWSS)
oration Philippine Amusement and Gamin
Land Bank of the Philippines  (IBC-13) g Corporation National Irrigation Administration
 (LandBank)  (PAGCOR)  (NIA)
Cultural Center of the Philippines
Social Security System (SSS),  (CCP) National Food Authority (NFA) Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp
oration
United Coconut Planters Bank Philippine Health Insurance Corpo National Power Corporation
 (IBC-13)
 (UCPB) ration  (NPC/NAPOCOR)
 (PhilHealth) Civil Aviation Authority of the Phi
lippines
 (CAAP)
  Independent Regulatory System originated from the
United States of America and was considered as a
peculiar feature of the American Administrative System.
They are created to regulate a specific industry. The
officials are appointed by the President and they cannot
be removed without a cause.
3. INDEPENDENT  They are an administrative agency that is not considered
REGULATORY part of the government’s executive branch and is not
COMMISSION subject to the authority of the president. They are meant
to impose and enforce regulations that are free of political
influence.
 A body created to assist the heads of administration which
remains relatively autonomous. They perform quasi-
legislative and quasi-judicial functions and remain
independent from the executive control.
COMPOSITION OF AN INDEPENDENT REGULATORY
COMMISSION
They are independent of President and are known as
“headless” branch of government. They have been
established by congress by law which defined their
constitutions and functions. They are regarded as
“the arms of congress”. Functions of independent
regulatory commission are of mixed nature,
administrative, quasi legislative and quasi judicial.
They are also known as fourth branch of government
because their functions do not completely fit into any
of the three traditional branches of government.

They have been established to protect the interests of

consumers, to ensure fair competition among the
competing suppliers, providing equitable and
universal access and maintaining safety and health
standards.
EXAMPLES OF INDEPENDENT REGULATORY COMMISSIONS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
ERC
ERC
ENERGY REGULATORY
COMMISSION: a world
class and independent electric
power industry regulator that
equitably promotes and
protects the interests of
consumers and other
stakeholders, to enable the
delivery of long-term benefits
that contribute to sustained
economic growth and an
improved quality of life.
NTC
NTC
NATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION: working hand
in hand with DOST-ASTI and
DICT  to succeed in reaching the
aim to improve processes in
government ,to provide better
services to both citizens and
businesses, as well as promote
public participation.
PRC
PRC
PROFESSIONAL
REGULATION
COMMISSION: regulate and
supervise the practice of the
professionals. The agency-in-
charge of the professional
sector, the PRC plays a
strategic role in developing
the corps of professionals for
industry, commerce,
governance, and the
economy.
CSC
CSC
CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION: regulate the
employment and working
conditions of civil servants,
oversee hiring and
promotions, and promote the
values of the public service.
Analogous to the HRD in
corporations. They are often
independent from elected
politicians.