NCPAG at 60: Filipino Leadership and Governance towards Nation Building

Monday, 25 June 2012 10:24

Sixty years ago, the Philippines made a milestone in Asia when it opened the Institute of Public Administration (IPA). Established in 1952 at the University of the Philippines in Padre Faura as part of the Philippine government’s response to the agenda of reconstruction in the post-war period, the IPA has pioneered the study of the discipline of public administration and the strengthening of the profession and its practice in the Philippines. Now located at the flagship campus of UP in Diliman and called the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), it continues the legacy of Filipino leadership and civil service toward a responsive and responsible governance and prides itself as the oldest and premiere school of public administration in the Philippines and one of the top 50 in the Asian Region.

The NCPAG offers academic degree programs aimed at preparing or strengthening the capability of individuals who would go to government for public service. Through its Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, Master of Public Administration, Diploma in Public Management, Doctor of Public Administration and several training programs, NCPAG nurtures graduates to become world-class and competent civil servants and leaders, guided by competence, integrity, professionalism, compassion and high ethical standards. The College counts today the like of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, DENR Secretary Ramon Paje, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Rizal Governor Jun Ynares, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, former Supreme Court Spokesperson Ismael Khan, Congressman Dante Liban, former congressman Leandro Verceles, and former Cavite Vice Mayor Alvin Mojica as among its many distinguished alumni who had served or are serving the government. Other distinguished graduates are Senator Ralph Recto, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto , and Governor Jorge “ER” Ejercito, among others.
NCPAG performs its function through its four centers. The Center for Public Administration and Governance Education (CPAGE) implements NCPAG’s mission to become the center of excellence in education through its academic degree programs. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officially recognized NCPAG as the most outstanding school of public administration in the country in 2004. The other three Centers, meanwhile, spearhead research, training and extension programs on specific fields. The Center for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG) trains and develops capacities of local officials and local government units. The Center for Policy and Executive Development (CPED) provides assistance to national executive agencies in terms of planning, capacity development, and organizational diagnosis and strengthening. The Center for Citizenship, Leadership, and Democracy (CLCD) links the college to the voluntary sector, to leadership development, and strengthening of democracy and democratic institutions.

Institution-building and international networking is another legacy of the College. It was crucial in the founding of the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA), which is a regional network of scholars and practitioners of public administration whose membership ranges from individual, institutions, to states. NCPAG serves as the Secretariat of the EROPA with former Senator Orlando Mercado acting as Secretary General. The College also serves as the secretariat of the Association of Schools of Public Administration in the Philippines (ASPAP) and the Philippine Society for Public Administration (PSPA). At the same time, NCPAG maintains partnerships with schools and institutes of public administration in countries such as Korea, Thailand, Japan, the United States of America, Malaysia, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Throughout the years, national government agencies such as the Department of Health, the Department of Social Work and Development, and the Department of Agriculture have also partnered with NCPAG in either the implementation or assessment of its programs or for the capacity building of its officials and staff. At the moment, the House of Representatives runs a scholarship program for its staff and had chosen NCPAG as the school and enabling partner. The College is also consistently chosen by major international funding and development institutions like the United Nations Development Program, USAID, AusAid, and GIZ, among others, as partner in various development projects implemented in the country.
To mark its diamond anniversary and to celebrate its 60 years of legacy, the NCPAG is hosting the international conference “Public Administration and Governance: Tradition and Transformation” on June 27 to 29 2012 at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City. Set to deliver the keynote speech in this conference is President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III.
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In a statement, President Aquino said that the conference is “timely as it coincides with a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, when those given the opportunity to serve in government reinstitute transparency, accountability, and integrity in our public bodies.” The President also acknowledged UP-NCPAG’s role in promoting good governance. “You (NCPAG) have played a key role in the revitalization of our country, mentoring leaders driven by the passion to serve our people,” said President Aquino.
UP-NCPAG Dean Edna Co, for her part, explained that the Conference will serve as a venue to “reexamine the study and practice of public administration and governance as it builds upon tradition, confronts challenges, and envisions its continuing contributions in public service.” Speaking about the direction of the College 60 years since it was founded, Dean Co emphasized building on its legacy of excellence that emanates from its mandate to serve the nation. “NCPAG will continue to excel in the field of public administration and governance because it has a nation to serve, a town to partner with and a citizenry to harness and empower,” Co stressed.