SOURCE: 1239.

RTF

THESIS ABSTRACT

Title : ADMINISTRATIVE CAPABILITY OF THE IMPLEMENTERS OF

THE KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY LAW IN NAGA CITY
Author : SERGIO, MARIA ROSE S.
Degree : MASTER OF ARTS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Year : 2005
Location : ADENU

This study is an evaluation of the administrative capability of the implementers of

Katarungang Pambarangay Law in Naga City. Further, it determined the presence or absence of
association between the implementers' socio-demographic profile and their administrative
capability. Finally, the study investigated the implementers' performance of their functions as
mandated by the Katarungang Pambarangay Law as measured in terms of the number of cases
settled, number of amicable settlements repudiated and executed, and the number of arbitration
awards issued and executed. The study followed the descriptive design, with two hundred fifty
nine respondents out of the four hundred two implementers of the Katarungang Pambarangay
Law across the twenty seven barangays of the City. The respondents include the Punong
Barangay as chairperson, Lupon secretary, and members. The period of the study covered
January 1 until December 31, 2003. The data of the study were obtained through personal
interview questionnaire. Content analysis of the data obtained from various government agencies
was also conducted.

The salient findings of the study include: 1) the Punong Barangay manifested compliance
with the basic requirements of the Katarungang Pambarangay Law in terms of the qualification
of the Lupon members who were chosen, however, it was revealed that there is greater tendency
to appoint older people than younger ones and males than females; 2) the respondents'
administrative capability measured in terms of both level of understanding and extent of
compliance with the Katarungang Pambarangay Law is high, and although their level of
understanding is 3 or average, their extent of compliance with the law they are mandated to carry
out is 5 or very high; 3) The performance of the implementers of Naga City is below the national
average since the settlement percentage in Naga is only 62 while the national settlement
percentage is 84 percent; 4) Out of the five socio-demographic factors tested for association with
the respondents' administrative capability, only the educational attainment reveals the presence of
association, the higher the educational attainment of the respondents, the more capable they
become in terms of understanding the Katarungang Pambarangay Law and complying with it to
dispense justice at the village level; 5) the respondents tend to settle civil cases and other cases
more than criminal cases and the highest percentage of cases that are filed before the courts after
undergoing mediation or conciliation is criminal in nature.

Thus, it is recommended that the practice of appointing elder members of the community and
those with higher educational attainment be continued since it has been found that it proves to be
beneficial and effective in accomplishing the goals of the system. Proper content, style, and
frequency of training must be seriously considered if envisioned effects are to be desired. The
training has to depart from the usual lecture method, instead it should be more interactive. Proper
linkages with the pertinent government agencies, academic institutions, and academe-based
organizations must be established and strengthened in order to collectively improve the
administrative capability and performance of the implementers. A Katarungang Pambarangay
Monitoring Unit under the Office of the City Mayor must be established or reactivated to ensure
proper supervision of the implementation of the system and guarantee that problems in the
implementation are timely and appropriated addressed. Finally, further researches investigating
the constraints, if there are any in the actual execution of the amicable settlement must be done.
Moreover, an interesting area of research is where the complainants and the respondents felt that
justice was actually delivered or dispensed with through the KPS. Finally, a research must be
done to determine the extent of coordination between the barangays and other agencies of the
government such as the DILG, DOJ, and the courts tasked to administer justice.