Intro to Policy-making process

Editor's Notes

• #4: The first stage in the public policy cycle is agenda-setting. Before a policy can be formulated, it must first command attention. A multitude of perceived problems and grievances compete for recognition at any given time. Some will get official consideration, but most will ignored or given only cursory treatment then soon abandoned. Constituent bitterness and disaffection is left in the wake (Manuel, 2008).
• #5: Successful civil servants, NGO workers, politicians and their advisers all need to have a wide range of skills and knowledge to equip them to meet the constantly changing challenges of public policy and management. This includes the evolving dynamic between public agencies and the private and voluntary sectors. http://portal.publicpolicy.utoronto.ca/en/Courses/Pages/default.aspx There is no ‘one-size-fit-all’ solution and governance as not a ‘one-time exercise’. It is a continuos process of refinement, re-assessment of practices and strategies as well as incremental institutional development (Guido, Bertucci Innovations in Governance and Public Administration: Replicating what works)
• #6: Word Origin & History policy "way of management, government, administration," late 14c., from O.Fr. policie (14c.) "civiladministration," from L. politia "the state," from Gk. politeia "state, administration, government,citizenship," from polites "citizen," from polis "city, state," from PIE *p(o)lH- "enclosed space, often on  A policy is a broad statement or group of statements used as guideline for managerial decision-making. It provides due discretion under bounded limits for imagination and creativity to the decision-maker. The policy ensures the predictivity and relative uniformity of decisions to be made by managers. Additionally, those who will affected by the policy, and the effectivity of its enforcement or execution are also included in the statement/s (Manuel, 2006).
• #7: A POLICY IS A STATEMENT THAT PROVIDES A GUIDE FOR DECISION MAKING BY MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OPERATING THE ORGANIZATION AS A SYSTEM WITH THE PURPOSE OF ATTAINING THE ESTABLISHED OBJECTIVES OF THE AN ORGANIZATION. A policy is a predetermined course of action established as a guide toward accepted objectives. A policy is a statement, verbal, written or implied, of those principles and rules that are set by Board of Directors as guidelines on organizations actions
• #8: Policy is then a series of action or procedures that is projected for a practical yet sociable results for people. Strategy, on the other hand, is the method or approach undertaken to accomplish development goals, objectives, and targets (NEDA, 1985).Policy: Promotion of quality and relevant educationStrategy: Formulation of selective admission and retention, recruitment of competent teachers, enrichment of curricular programs , and provision of adequate library resources and laboratory equipment and apparatuses.
• #10: Policy instrument refers to the mechanism whether this is already in place or to be established in the organization for the execution of the policy; Policy concerns refer to the problems and difficulties, or deviations in the attainment of objectives being met in the organization which the policy is made to address; Policy beneficiaries refer to direct and indirect beneficiaries of the policy objectives, etc.; and Effect on people, this means that a policy provides for the identified people who will be affected by the execution, review and evaluation of policy whether directly or indirectly. A policy is objective in the sense that, it provides for the attainment of expectations. Thus, has direction for something. It has also responsibility and accountability because managers will be the ones who’ll be responsible to implement the execution of policy and accountable for the results. A policy has limitations, that is, bounded limits, which states the limitations of the autonomy, freedom or discretion of the decision maker. It has also a time frame, that implementation and execution of policy is effected on a given date, and within a stated duration of time. It can be on a short-term or long-term periods. Imagination and Creativity refers to the decision maker’s intelligence and conceptual ability in consideration of the external and internal factors affecting the choice of the decision. This encourages the decision maker to think critically of the situation and consequences of the decision to be made. It provides therefore, the opportunity and the initiative for the manager to see things comprehensively and innovate strategies and processes to eliminate the causes of the problems. Decision making means that the manager is given the reasonable area for options, choices, or alternatives in making decisions to eliminate or minimize the causes of problems in the attainment of managerial effectiveness and efficiency in the operations. While, discretion refers to the given autonomy or freedom of the manager when solving problems and making decisions given the limitations as stated in the policy.Yes! In an organization, it is expected that the organizational or wide applications of decisions shall be made in consideration of the strategic and or long term goals and objectives. The policy provides the assurance that managers shall decide in consideration of the over all advantage to the organization and that managers should think and act as one in consideration of the primordial goals.
• #38: The Project will harness technologies and management services for disaster risk reduction activities offered by the DOST through PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, and the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), in partnership with the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences and the UP College of Engineering. The Project has the following components: • Distribution of Hydrometeorological Devices in hard-hit areas in the Philippines (Hydromet) that provide a better picture of the country’s surface water in relation to flooding; • Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation – Light Detection and Ranging (DREAM-LIDAR) Project produce more accurate flood inundation and hazard maps in 3D for the country’s flood-prone and major river systems and watersheds. • Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through LIDAR. The project, which is targeted to be completed by December 2014, shall use LIDAR technology and computer-assisted analyses to identify exact areas prone to landslides. • Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge Assessment and Mitigation (CHASSAM).  CHASSAM, which is targeted to be completed by December 2014, will generate wave surge, wave refraction, and coastal circulation models to understand and recommend solutions for coastal erosion. • Flood Information Network (FloodNET) Project. Targeted to be completed by December 2013 is a flood center that will provide timely and accurate information for flood early warning systems. The FloodNET  Project will come up with computer models for the critical RBs, automate the process of data gathering, modeling and information output, and release flood forecasts. • Local Development of Doppler Radar Systems (LaDDeRS). LaDDeRS seeks to develop local capacity to design, fabricate, and operate sub-systems of Doppler radars for remotely sensing the dynamic parameters of sea surface such as wave, wind field, and surface current velocity. • Landslide Sensors Development Project. This project is a low-cost, locally developed, sensor-based early monitoring and warning system for landslides, slope failures, and debris flow. As of May 2012, ten sensors have been installed in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte; Tago, Surigao del Sur; Tublay, Bugias, and Bokod in Benguet; Guihulngan City, Negros Occidental; St. Bernard, Southern Leyte;  and Tubungan, Iloilo. Additional sensors are expected to be deployed to not less than 50 sites by 2013. • Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP). WHIP involves the utilization of platforms such as television (DOSTv) and a web portal (http://noah.dost.gov.ph),  which display real-time satellite, Doppler radar, ARG, and WLMS data to empower LGUs and communities to prepare against extreme natural hazards. This is complemented by activities, such as: a) conducting of IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) activities; and b) the processing and packaging of relevant and up-to-date information for public use. Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazard) is an inter-agency collaboration "to promote and integrate advanced science and technology to enhance disaster management and prevention capacity of the Philippine government."
• #39: It’s included on the social contract of President Noynoy Aquino III with the Filipino people, and under environment it seeks transformational change therein, that is, inclusive urban developments where people of varying income levels are integrated in productive, healthy and safe communities..
• #40: “Terminology never stands still,” as Twigg of the Hazard Research Center, Benfield University College London (UCL) asserted. According to him, terms evolve by expanding new ones and expanding the old. In the field of disaster management, the term “disaster prevention” in the 1970s had been changed to “disaster mitigation” in the 1980s. This was due to a realization that natural disasters are just impossible to prevent, for they can only be lessened. But even the more realistic term of mitigating disasters per se was later deemed to be unclear. With this, “disaster risk reduction” was thought about as the most appropriate term so far in reducing the risks and impacts of disasters in the post-modern world (NDCP, 2013).