Improving the Government for Every Filipino

Improving the way services are delivered to the people has always been a priority of the government to further strengthen the citizens’ faith and trust in the government’s capacity to make the Filipino lives better, safer and healthier.

Many government agencies are continually improving the delivery of their services through streamlining processes and rationalizing documentary requirements for ease of transaction of the citizens. One way to achieve this is through the establishment of a Quality Management System (QMS), where planning, service, and support operations are aligned to ISO 9001 International Standards. It assures the consistency in the quality of services and continuous process improvement that will generate approaches to enhance customer and citizen satisfaction.

Establishing a QMS also complements the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which encourages the reengineering of systems and procedures. It mandates all offices and agencies to undergo review, evaluation and streamlining of their systems and procedures to reduce bureaucratic red tape and ease transactions of the Filipino people.

What is the GQMP?

The Government Quality Management Program (GQMP), which was created through the issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 605, is a national government-funded program that promotes quality improvement in the public sector. The goal of the GQMP is to effect improvements in public sector performance by ensuring the consistency of products and services through quality processes that can be achieved by virtue of the establishment of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System.

• Directs departments/agencies under the Executive Branch and GOCCs to adopt ISO-QMS and pursue certification
• Enjoins SUCs and encourages LGUs, Judiciary, Legislature and Constitutional Offices to establish ISO-QMS and pursue certification
• Directs establishment of citizens’ charter of key government offices as service guarantee

Focus on Enhancing Citizen Satisfaction

The GQMP is taking a great leap in its priorities by leveling up its quality improvement initiatives and focusing on enhancing citizen satisfaction. Its vision is: “Improved citizen satisfaction driven by government-wide quality improvement.” Thus, the Program concentrates on improving the frontline services of the government to ensure that Filipino citizens will greatly benefit in the process and system improvement initiatives. Reduction on the citizens’ transaction steps, waiting time, and transaction costs are the core of its objectives.

The program aims to:

1. Increase the number of agencies with Quality Management System certified to ISO 9001:2015
2. Streamline processes of frontline services
3. Establish service quality standards
4. Improve the workplace quality and organization of the national government agencies
5. Promote innovation in public service delivery through innovation laboratory
6. Improve capacities of government agencies in adopting quality improvement approaches

Program Components

Strengthening and Expanding the Government Quality Management System

Through the continuing capability-building activities of the GQMP, most government agencies are implementing ISO 9001-certified QMS. To continuously widen the adoption and optimize the benefits of QMS, the program is providing supplementary technical assistance on QMS development and certification, process streamlining, scope expansion and integration of different management systems through training, consulting and publications.

Institutionalizing the 5S Good Housekeeping Program

The 5S Good Housekeeping is a systematic approach to organize work areas, keep rules and standards, and maintain discipline. It utilizes workplace organization and work simplification techniques, which complement the effective implementation of ISO 9001 QMS. The GQMP aims to institutionalize the 5S Good Housekeeping Program through training courses, seminars and technical assistance to ensure the consistent quality and organization of workplace in the government, and expand the application of the waste elimination principles of sort, systematize, sanitize, standardize and sustain.

Institutionalizing the Service Quality Standards

The adoption of common service quality standards for the whole of government assures consistency in the quality of services. This component steers the bureaucracy towards a more citizen-centered service delivery and instill a culture of quality. The GQMP conducts Citizen and Business Satisfaction Surveys on government frontline services dealing with the transacting public and business sector to measure service quality, identify service quality standards, and institutionalize them in the whole bureaucracy.

Innovating the Public Sector

The GQMP implements advocacy and capability building activities to help the public sector develop innovation culture, and come up with innovative solutions and improvement of processes to address the challenges and opportunities that highly impact the provision of quality public services. It leverages on the requirement of the QMS for continual improvement and attainment of full potential. It also holds annually the Government Best Practice Recognition, a platform that showcases public sector best practices and recognizes the efforts of innovative agencies.

The Modernizing Government Regulations (MGR) Program is a comprehensive national regulatory reform program being implemented by the Development Academy of the Philippines in cooperation with the National Economic and Development Authority. The MGR Program is among the government initiatives that aim to improve the regulatory environment of the Philippines.

One of the four components of the MGR Program is the Regulatory Review Component which aims to examine the existing regulatory environment affecting the identified priority industries. It highlights the MGR Program’s value proposition to cultivate a meaningful and effective regulatory framework, promote the development of a regulatory management system that is citizen-focused, responsive and which utilizes systems and process-based approach in analyzing the regulations affecting the industries covered.

Specifically, the industry regulatory reviews aimed at addressing some key issues of the industries covered for an enhanced regulatory environment through an exhaustive examination of the regulatory process and intends to present the key recommendations for streamlining of regulations or improving their effectiveness for more relevant and coherent regulatory management.

The regulatory environment of the industries covered are studied in terms of relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency with the regulatory impact assessment (RIA) as the minimum analysis tool. Relevance refers to analyzing the rationale of the regulations and responsiveness in addressing societal issue and establishing the need for a government intervention. As to effectiveness, regulations are examined relative to the extent to which the regulations attain its intended objectives. The efficiency indicator measures the outputs of the regulations — qualitative and quantitative — in relation to the inputs. Efficiency involves examining the costs and benefits of the regulations.

In 2016, MGR Program launched the Industry Regulatory Review with five priority industries namely: food production, food processing, food service, transportation (land and sea), and tourism.

In 2017, the MGR’s Industry Regulatory Review covered another five priority industries namely: chemicals, housing, logistics, power, and the transportation.

In 2018, the regulatory review continued and covered three new industries such as construction (preliminary report), consumer goods, and healthcare. The other two industries are deepening studies which focused on the accreditation of the tourism industry and renewable energy as a subsector for the power industry.

In 2019, five new industries were covered by the MGR Program for its regulatory review. These industries include education, insurance, money services businesses, water utility, and mining.

To get a free copy of these industry regulatory review reports, visit https://mgr.dap.edu.ph/download

In line with the current thrust of the national government to effect inclusive socio-economic growth and to restructure its governance system, it has become an exigency for government bodies to improve ease of transaction and quality of service delivery to render an environment that promotes flourishing of business. Central to the achievement of seamless service delivery is implementing a whole-of-government regulatory reform by enhancing regulatory quality and coherence and reducing unnecessary regulatory burden.

The Modernizing Government Regulations (MGR) Program, being implemented by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), started in 2016 to contribute to broad-based improvements in national productivity and competitiveness. It is a national regulatory reform program that aims to contribute to the improvement of the competitiveness of the Philippines.

The Program aims to examine the existing regulatory environments affecting priority industries, determine how they affect the growth and operations of businesses in these industries, and develop proposals that would make those regulations more relevant and coherent. Specifically, the Program aims to contribute to the national government’s efforts to improve ease of doing business by:

1. Reviewing regulations governing the priority industries and coming up with actionable recommendations on how to improve the said industries’ regulatory environment;
2. Facilitating exchange of ideas and recommendations from key stakeholders of the priority industries;
3. Enhancing the capability of regulatory agencies to develop smart regulations through regular capacity building; and,
4. Improving the effectiveness of regulations by introducing a regulatory management system standard.

As of December 2020, the MGR Program covered 118 agencies in its studies of 21 industries for regulatory review, benefitted 104 agencies on regulatory impact assessment, and trained a total of 1,864 participants. These results manifest the Program’s contribution to more capable regulatory agencies and an improved regulatory environment.

The Development Academy of the Philippines, through its Productivity and Development Center’s Modernizing Government Regulations (MGR) Program, has released regulatory reform publications as part of its initiatives to increase awareness and contribute to the adoption of good regulatory practices (GRPs).

The MGR Program is a comprehensive national regulatory reform program that aims to improve the ease of doing business in the Philippines through examining the existing regulatory environments affecting focus sectors or industries, determining how they affect the growth and operations of businesses in these industries, and developing proposals that would make regulations more relevant and coherent. In its advocacy of promoting GRPs, the MGR Program completed the following publications:

DAP Guidebook on Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Public Sector
The Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for the Public Sector 1st Edition was primarily developed for the use of regulation authorities tasked to create, develop, and manage regulations. RIA ensures the quality of regulatory proposals by critically measuring their positive and negative effects through a rigorous, well-defined, and evidence-based analysis.

There are five (5) modules included in the guidebook which are:
1. Regulation and its Rationale
2. The Need for Regulatory Reform
3. Good Regulatory Practices
4. RIA
5. Steps in Conducting RIA

DAP Guide on Stakeholder Consultation

Effective stakeholder consultation is fundamental in removing obstacles to improve regulation, for instance, in establishing Regulatory Management Systems (RMS) and conducting RIA. Gaining a wider perspective can lead to better solutions and pathways to regulatory reform and development.

In various endeavors towards progress, stakeholder consultation promotes good governance, transparency, citizenship, and accountability. The publication of this guidebook seeks to enhance current government efforts in engaging its stakeholders. The Guide on Stakeholder Consultation, as a first of its kind, puts together international best practices and principles that can be considered by those who value the interconnectedness of everyone.

DAP Guidance Note on Regulatory Cost Model on Compliance Costs

Estimation of regulatory compliance costs is a significant component of RIA as it provides key inputs in the assessment of regulatory options. Thus, the DAP, as part of its MGR Program, initiated the development of the Regulatory Cost Model (RCM). The model facilitates a systematic approach in estimating regulatory costs of compliance and helps Philippine regulatory agencies be more informed in their formulation of regulations.

As the Philippine government endeavors towards the streamlining of its processes, the publication of this guidance note seeks to enhance current efforts in formulating simpler, smarter, and better regulations that ultimately benefit the economy.

DAP Benchmarking Study on Regulatory Management in Agri-Fisheries Sector

Food safety is a primary concern of every economy, Philippines included. In fact, food safety together with consumer welfare and protection are the primary bases for the regulatory processes imposed at each stage of the business development cycle for agri-food enterprises. However, no matter how good the intents may be, the manner, with which these regulatory processes are implemented and enforced may lead to unintended outcomes, defeating the very purpose of their formulation.

Performance assessment of the Philippines’ food systems regulation through participatory action research and benchmarking with more advanced food systems regulatory regimes yielded valuable recommendations to improve the overall regulatory management system in the agriculture and fisheries sector.

To get a free copy of these regulatory reform publications, visit https://mgr.dap.edu.ph/download/

This article was originally posted in http://pdc.dap.edu.ph/index.php/dap-modernizing-government-regulations-program-releases-regulatory-reform-publications/

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through the Productivity and Development Center (PDC), recently conducted a management briefing for the 14 selected beneficiary agencies of the technical assistance projects on the development or enhancement of the Quality Management System (QMS).

Being at the forefront of advocating for the government-wide adoption of ISO 9001 QMS to effect systemic improvement in the delivery of public service and bringing the government closer to the people, the DAP-PDC’s GQMP Office took the lead in orienting the 2021 beneficiary agencies on the program and project requirements, as well as, secured their commitment to complete the project by 31 December 2021. The briefing was attended by 60 representatives from various government agencies.

In her welcome remarks, DAP Programs’ Senior Vice President Magdalena L. Mendoza said that, “It is only right and just to establish QMS in the whole of government, as it provides a framework to ensure quality and continuous provision of more value-adding services. It provides the foundation for government agencies to effect actual process and service improvements through simple and breakthrough innovations.”

The 14 beneficiary agencies were selected after careful and thorough deliberation of the technical working group, composed of representatives from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the DAP.

For QMS development, the selected beneficiary agencies that will be assisted by the DAP are the following national line agencies (NLAs), including pilot sites (as applicable): the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), DSWD – National Council Disability Affairs (NCDA), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), DoTR – Philippine Railways Institute (PRI), and the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA). Also included are two state universities and colleges (SUCs): Mindanao State University (MSU), Apayao State College (ASC); and five local government units (LGUs): City Government of Davao, City Government of Butuan, City Government of Baguio, Municipal Government of Bauang, La Union, and the Municipal Government of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur.

As part of the service quality improvements initiatives through the establishment of ISO 9001 QMS, the DAP also extends its support to the 2021 beneficiary agencies, under the NLAs and LGUs, that may express their interest to expand their ISO 9001- certified QMS in the same year.

For process scope expansion, the two agencies are: Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).

DAP-PDC Advocacy and Institutional Development Office Director Evangeline M. Macariola, stressed that, “the adoption of QMS, which was institutionalized through Executive Order No. 605, increases the organization’s awareness of its duties and commitment to fulfill the needs and expectations of its customers, ensuring consistent delivery of quality products and services.”

The GQMP technical assistance intervention is composed of training, workshops, guidance sessions, and assessments. Upon completion of the project by December 2021, the agencies are expected to be certified to ISO 9001:2015 QMS standard within the next six months.

In her closing remarks, DBM Systems and Productivity Improvement Bureau Director Emelita B. Menghamal expressed that, “Beyond satisfying the needs and requirements of stakeholders, organizations must also strive to exceed their expectations through continually improving the way things are being done in the government. Establishing the QMS can contribute immensely to the country’s productivity and competitiveness as it addresses the requirements of the different sectors of the bureaucracy and promotes effective governance.”

As of December 2020, the GQMP has provided technical assistance to 50 beneficiary agencies in the development and/or expansion of ISO 9001:2015 QMS. At present, 38 of the GQMP beneficiary agencies already have their QMS certification, while the rest are currently working on their respective certification process. For more information about the GQMP, contact the Government Quality Management Program Office at gqmpo@dap.edu.ph.

The DAP seeks to empower leaders, strengthen institutions, and build the nation through pioneering, value adding, synergistic ideas, concepts, principles, techniques, and technologies addressing development problems of local, national, and international significance. DAP – PDC offers capability building, technical assistance, and research related to productivity and quality improvement. For details about DAP-PDC, visit www.dap.edu.ph, email pdc.@dap.edu.ph or call 0977–826‐ 3077.

This article was originally posted in http://pdc.dap.edu.ph/index.php/dap-briefs-14-agencies-chosen-to-get-technical-assistance-on-quality-management-system/

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Productivity and Development Center, recently concluded the “Training of Trainers on Developing Future-ready Agribusiness Social Enterprises (SEs)” last 3-5 March 2021.

The three-day training program, sponsored by the DAP with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), an intergovernmental organization that seeks to increase productivity in the Asia-Pacific region, was attended by potential agribusiness SE trainers from APO member countries. The course discussed topics on accessing finance, improving productivity, increasing post-harvest value, and expanding market linkages which play a vital role in achieving future-readiness of smallholder farmers and micro and small entrepreneurs.

DAP President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan Jr. MNSA, in his welcome remarks, highlighted the importance of futuristic thinking and foresight in planning and developing enterprises, may it be a public or private entity.

In the keynote speech of Department of Agriculture (DA) – Agribusiness and Marketing Assistant Secretary Kristine Y. Evangelista, current initiatives, programs, and grants provided by the DA to boost Philippine agribusiness were presented. One of this is the “KADIWA ni Ani at Kita Program” that seeks to ensure that food commodities are made available and accessible in high consumer demand areas, particularly among the poor and low-income families, by harnessing private sector participation, enhancing capacity of farmers’ cooperatives and associations, and engaging community organizations’ participation in the food supply distribution system.

In the training proper, the participants acquired substantial knowledge on the concept and principles of future-ready social enterprises from Mr. Kevin Koranteng Cheeseman, an innovation consultant from Portugal. Mr. Cheeseman presented techniques, strategies, and alternative means to establish, scale-up, and fund social enterprises across the agriculture value chain. Dr. Ramesh Mittal, Director of the National Institute of Agriculture Marketing from India, introduced future-ready technologies that can be employed in the agribusiness sector. He also elucidated the roles of the public and private sector in developing future-ready agribusiness SEs.

The high-level discussions were corroborated by the presentation on global trends and case studies on future-ready agribusiness SEs led by Mr. Etienne Dustin Salborn, UN Awardee, Founder and Director of Social Innovation Academy from Uganda.

Apart from the discussions, on the second day of the training, the participants had a chance to have a virtual tour of Urban Greens – Hydroponic Farm Systems, an innovative and future-ready model agribusiness. Mr. Ralph Becker, Founder, and CEO of the Urban Greens facilitated the virtual site visit. Urban Greens combines the latest technologies on hydroponic, Internet of Things, and blockchain technology with the best of traditional agriculture to produce stable, year-round harvests safe from the threat of typhoons and droughts. The farm grows 100% GMO-free, and artificial pesticides free with 90% less water used compared to conventional farming and a massively reduced CO2 footprint.

And to further bolster the organizational development of agribusiness SEs, the third day of the training included a discussion on the characteristics and competencies of effective trainers. This was presented by Ms. Ma. Theresa Agustin, Director of the Productivity and Quality Training Office of DAP. As a culminating activity, the participants presented their proposed model of an agribusiness SE that can be implemented in their respective countries.

The training of trainers is one of the pioneering virtual programs conducted under the Digital Multi-country programs of APO. This is in line with DAP’s goal to empower leaders, strengthen institutions, and build the nation through pioneering, value–adding, synergistic ideas, concepts, principles, techniques, and technologies addressing development problems of local, national, and international significance.

The DAP, as the National Productivity Organization, seeks to empower leaders, strengthen institutions, and build the nation through pioneering, value adding, synergistic ideas, concepts, principles, techniques, and technologies addressing development problems of local, national, and international significance. DAP – PDC offers capability building, technical assistance, and research related to productivity and quality improvement. For more information, visit www.dap.edu.ph, email pdc@dap.edu.ph or call 8632-2156/2137.

To get more details on the Training of Trainers on Developing Future-ready Agribusiness Social Enterprises email: pdro@dap.edu.ph

This article was originally posted in http://pdc.dap.edu.ph/index.php/dap-successfully-conducts-the-apo-digital-multi-country-training-of-trainers-on-developing-future-ready-agribusiness-social-enterprises/

“The only way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.” – Winston Churchill

The concept of the employee suggestion scheme (ESS) is quite simple. Employees are encouraged to share creative ideas for improvement and innovation in the organization. Through the ESS, two-way communication between the employees and the management is established. This increases the productivity and consequently improves the quality of products and services of the organization.

Acceptable suggestions can be on improvements in own work or of the entire working environment, savings in energy, labor, materials and other resources, improvement in processes and practices, improvement on tools and equipment, and improvement in safety. On the other hand, company policies, compensation and benefits, disputes, and criticisms are out of the scope of an ESS. There are two types of employee suggestion scheme: traditional (top down approach) and kaizen teian (bottom up approach). The traditional way involves soliciting suggestions with high impact and giving rewards to employees who contributed to increased financial performance of the organization. Meanwhile, kaizen teian which literally means “improvement proposal” focuses on small, incremental and continuous improvements. Implementing ESS, however, involves more than just putting up a suggestion box and waiting for employees to drop-in their suggestions. An ESS usually consists of four major components:

1. Encouraging people at all levels to participate – From the head of the organization to front line employees, each member’s role is crucial to the growth of the organization.
2. Motivate employees to write proposals – Employees should be empowered to submit proposals regardless of their position in the organization. Every suggestion must be fairly reviewed and evaluated.
3. Review, evaluate and implement – Identifying who should evaluate the proposals is a critical step. It is not recommended to make the direct supervisor the evaluators of ESS because it might be biased. What most organizations do is to create a committee who reviews the proposals, make decisions on which suggestions should be adopted, and inform the employees of the results of their suggestions.
4. Award payments and/or commendations – Will you give cash incentives for a helpful suggestion? Cash rewards may be effective but there are also other types of incentive such as vouchers, paid holidays, merchandise (watches, t-shirts, jackets, etc.) Regardless of what type of incentive it will be, it should be enough to encourage the employees to contribute towards productivity and innovation.Successful implementation of an ESS highlights a culture committed to building collaboration, teamwork and worker empowerment by focusing people. To guarantee the success of an ESS, the following factors have to be considered:

• Obtaining the management buy-in;
• Forming an ESS committee, and defining its roles and functions;
• Defining the suggestion process;
• Promoting the suggestion system to all employees; and,
• Establishing an evaluation and awards systems.