“Being an Administrator has its rewards. It is a chance to be a team player with the people and their appointed leaders as team mates. It is a privilege to make a career out of the noble mission of service. A golden opportunity to stand in the center of development and be a role player in the real life drama of history unfolding”.

Excerpt from my essay “Sentiments of a Public
Administrator on Public Administration”,
University of the Philippines, Diliman, March, 1999

Local Government Code of 1991 mandates that all provinces and cities shall appoint an Administrator. This is however optional in the case of the municipal governments. Since the Administrator is considered as the alter ego of the Chief Executive, he should know by heart the vision for the LGU and the policy agenda of his Governor/Mayor. Getting the right Administrator, trust and competence considered, is one of the major critical decisions of the Chief Executive. Section 480 of the Local Government Code defines the qualification, duties and powers of the Administrator.

A. What are the qualifications of the Administrator?

No person shall be appointed administrator unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in public administration, law, or any other related course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in management and administration work for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city administrator, and three (3) years in case of the municipal administrator.

B. What is the term of the Administrator?

The term of the Administrator is coterminous with that of his appointing authority. Coterminous means that the Administrator has no security of tenure like the permanent employees. He leaves when the Chief Executives leaves. He serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

C. What are the duties and powers of the Administrator?

The administrator shall take charge of the Office of the Administrator and shall;

(i) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same particularly those which have to do with the management and administration-related programs and projects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code;

(ii) Assist in the coordination of the work of all the officials of the local government unit, under the supervision, direction, and control of the governor or mayor, and for this purpose, he may convene the chiefs of offices and other officials of the local government unit;

(iii) Establish and maintain a sound personnel program for the local government unit, designed to promote career development and uphold the merit principle in the local service;

(iv) Conduct a continuing organizational development of the local government unit with the end in view of instituting effective administrative reforms;

(v) Be in the frontline of the delivery of administrative support services, particularly those related to the situations during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities;

(vi) Recommend to the Sanggunian and advise the governor and mayor, as the case may be, on all other matters relative to the management and administration of the local government unit; and

(vii) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.