i

LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES AND PERFORMANCE OF THE

DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
SAN VICENTE, PALAWAN

_______________

A
Thesis
Presented
to the Faculty of the Open University
University of Northern Philippines
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

_______________

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the degree
Master in Public Administration

by

JOHN REY G. BUNGALSO

2021
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CERTIFICATION

This thesis entitled “Leadership Capabilities and Performance of the Department

Heads in the Municipality of San Vicente, Palawan”, prepared and submitted by John Rey

G. Bungalso, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master in Public

Administration, has been examined and is recommended for acceptance and approval for

Final Defense.

JOSELITO D. DE LA ROSA, DPA TIRSO P. TACTAY, Ed. D.

Critic Statistician

ISMAEL C. RIVERA, DPA

Adviser
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APPROVAL SHEET

Approved by the Panel of Examiners on Oral Examination with a grade of

___________.

CRESENCIO B. VELASCO, MBA, MPA

Chairman

ROWEL TACBAS, Ph. D. FATIMA F. ROCAMORA, MPA, Ed.D.

Member Member

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree

Master in Public Administration.

CRESENCIO B. VELASCO, MBA, MPA

Dean, Open University

Date: ______________________________

Comprehensive Examination: PASSED

Date: ______________________
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, the research wished to thank the almighty Father for the wisdom, grace

and guidance showered upon him;

Dr Erwin F. Cadorna, President of the University of Northern Philippines, for his

remarkable leadership to promote quality education;

Prof. Cresencio B. Velasco, Dean, Open University and Chairman of the Panel for

his encouragement, motivation and invaluable suggestions for the improvement of this

study;

Dr. Ismael C. Rivera, adviser, for his excellent suggestions and assistance that

improved the quality of this research;

Dr. Tirso P. Tactay, statistician, for his patience and guidance in analyzing the data

of this work;

Dr. Joselito D. Dela Rosa, critic, and Dr. Fatima F. Rocamora, and Dr. Rowel

Tacbas, Panel Members, for their scholarly suggestions for the improvement of this study;

The whole staff of Open University for their warm accommodation, patience and

assistance during the period of my study;

To Mayor Amy Roa Alvarez, Vice Mayor Antonio V. Gonzales, Municipal

Councilors, for allowing the researcher to conduct this research to this Local Government

Unit, and to all Departments heads and their respective staff who served as respondents and

evaluators for this research.

To his loving wife, Mrs. Cristy V. Forcadas-Bungalso, RN, for her understanding,

trust, love and moral support;

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To his twin son, Reign Clio V. Bungalso and Prince Jed V. Bungalso served as an

inspiration to finish this research;

To his parents, brother and sister for their family loving support and concern;

The special thanks are also extended to his relatives and friends for their moral

support and encouragement to finish this study.

Especially the researcher also wishes to extend his gratitude to his office meets and to

all those people who are not mention here that gives their moral support and assistance.

J.R.B
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DEDICATION

To my beloved wife, CRISTY,

To my handsome angels, REIGN CLIO and PRINCE JED,

To my dearest parents Mr. ISIDORO C. BUNGALSO, JR and Mrs. DELIA G.

BUNGALSO,

To my dearest siblings, IRISH JANE and IAN DALE,

To my loving in-laws, niece and nephew,

To my relatives, friends, and mentors,

And above all,

To You, ALMIGHTY FATHER, the author of everything....

This humble work is sincerely dedicated!

JR
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ABSTRACT

This study focused on the leadership capabilities and performance of the department

heads in the municipality of San Vicente, Palawan for the Calendar Year of 2020. The profile

of the respondents was measured in terms of age, sex, civil status, highest educational

attainment, length of service in the government, gross monthly income, and training/seminars

attended. The leadership capabilities of the department heads in the municipality of San

Vicente, Palawan along (a.) motivation to lead, (b.) decision making, (c.) problem solving,

and (d.) professional and personal characteristics was looked into.

In addition, the level of practice of the Municipal Government Department Heads

(MGDH) in terms of performance of duties, and attitude towards work/job was also

measured. Furthermore, the significant relationship between Office Performance

Commitment and Review (OPCR) rating and leadership capabilities of the department heads

was also fund-out.

The respondents of this study were the Municipal Government Department Heads in

the Municipality of San Vicente, Palawan, and their respective support personnel were

identified as their evaluators. The study made use of the descriptive research design,

especially the survey method, was used in this study with a questionnaire adopted from

previous study of the researcher (2010) as the main data-gathering tool. The instruments used

in this study include two sets of survey questionnaire, one for the department heads that

contains the demographic profile. And the second set of questionnaires is intended for the

evaluators, consisted of two parts. Part I is on is the level of performance of the Department

Heads along performance of duties and attitude towards work/job, and part II is on leadership

capabilities of the Department Heads in terms of motivation to lead, decision making,

problem solving, and professional and personal characteristics. Moreover, the frequency
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counts, and percentage mean and Pearson Product- Moment Correlation Coefficient were

statistical tools used to treat the data gathered.

Based on the findings, the following conclusions are drawn: most of the respondents

are 51 years and above, they were served in the Local Government of San Vicente from 11 to

20 years, and most of them are female and married. Most of them are only have a college

degree in their educational attainment. They have a gross monthly income of Php 50,000 and

above. In addition, the respondents attended seminars and training from local to national

level.

The Leadership Capabilities of the Department Heads in the Municipality of San

Vicente in terms of motivation to lead is at a “Very Satisfactory”. The group effort is

important to the respondents in achieving group goals. This conclude that the motivation and

success of the employees and organization is possible in the way of management approach by

the department heads. In terms of decision-making is at a “Very Satisfactory”, it implies the

great characteristics of department heads in decision making, they know how to balance

emotion and make decisions that have a positive impact for themselves, their subordinates

and organization.

Furthermore, the respondents also got a “Very Satisfactory” rating in terms of

problem solving in their respective offices, it illustrates the effective problem-solving

mechanism of the respondents in their respective department. It is necessary in molding the

behavior and appropriate attitude of subordinates in performing their duties and functions. In

addition, the Leadership Capabilities of the respondents in terms of professional and personal

characteristics is also at “Very Satisfactory” rating. The accountability to people and the

discharge of duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence and loyalty, act with

patriotism and justice, lead modest lives and uphold public interest over personal interest is

the priority of the department heads. Moreover, proper attire and/or decorum is also
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important to the respondents. they observed wearing proper attire or uniform during office

hours, for them to gain respect from their subordinates and other employees.

Furthermore, it is a “Very Satisfactory” in terms of level of practice of the

respondents according to their performance of duties and attitude towards work/job. The

dedication to work in is one of the most important ingredients in the level of performance of

the respondents in performing their duties. Time-pressure management skill, extremely

organized attitude, and task-oriented are the leadership behavior of the respondents. They

were also transparent, diligent and accountable department head in achieving Local

Government Unit mission and vision for the people of San Vicente. In addition, the

department heads are all committed to their particular position for the organization goals.

The success of the organization is defending in the management approach of the

leader, motivating the subordinates in one goal is one of the management approaches that

lead to the success of the organization. This behavior is one of the good characteristics of the

respondents. Team work was emphasized by them during group project or assigned task. For

those leaders, the group effort is priceless.

Decision making is important in the department heads in performing their function,

they balance emotion during decision making, for them to have decisions that have positive

impact for themselves as department head, and also for their subordinates and organization.

furthermore, they considered and accept the input and ideas of their subordinates to establish

stable decision for the success of the organization, and to avoid failure.

Group decision for convenience of everybody is the top priority of the respondents

than their self-interest, to solve the organization problem appropriately. They are also

unbiased in the time of resolving conflict of the employees or subordinates, which is a good

characteristic of a great leader.

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Norms of conduct of public officials and employees is also the top priority of the

respondents in performing their function. It implies that, the respondents have some

characteristics of being a rules and procedure abiding employee. They perform their

accountability to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility,

integrity, competence and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives and

uphold public interest over personal interest.

Furthermore, proper attire and/or decorum is also important to the respondents. they

observed wearing proper attire or uniform during and after office hours, for them to gain

respect from their subordinates and other employees. In addition, the Office Performance

Commitment and Review (OPCR) rating year 2020 of the respondents is not significantly

correlated in the leadership capabilities of the department heads.

Based on the conclusions drawn, the following are the recommendations:

1. The Municipal Government Department Heads should be sustained the high-level status of

their leadership capabilities and level of performance.

2. The municipal government of San Vicente may continue implementing the ethical

standard of public employee in providing service to the public. And also straighten the

capabilities and level of performance not only the Department Heads, but all LGU

employees by giving and providing them the opportunity to attend related seminars and

trainings, to attain mission and vision of the LGU for the people of San Vicente.

3. All department heads and employees are encouraged to be more productive in their

specific function in serving the community.

4. The respondents may continue to be committed to the in their task and to their respective

offices or groups in achieving LGU’s goals. The LGU vision and mission must be

internalized by the department heads.

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5. The department heads must continue their capabilities as an effective leader that can

commit to using his or her ability to lead others, perform technical skills, and

conceptualize situations, thus helping to ensure goal achievement.

6. Stand to be effective leader in managing conflict in a productive manner, because conflict

among people is a natural, inevitable, and constant factor of human interaction.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Title Page…………………………………………………... I

Certification………………………………………………... ii

Approval Sheet……………………………………………... iii

Acknowledgment…………………………………………... iv

Dedication…………………………………………………... vi

Abstract……………………………………………………. vii

Table of Contents…………………………………………... xii

List of Tables………………………………………………. xiv

Chapter

I THE PROBLEM

Introduction………………………………………………. 1

Statement of the Problem…………………………………. 4

Scope and Delimitation of the Study……………………... 5

Theoretical Framework…………………………………… 5

Conceptual Framework…………………………………… 20

Operational Definition of Terms…………………………. 21

Assumptions………………………………………………. 23

Hypothesis……………………………………………….... 23

Research Methodology…………………………………… 23

Research Design………………………………………. 23
Population of Study ………………………………… 23
Data Gathering Instrument……………………………... 24
Data Gathering Procedure……………………………... 25
Statistical Treatment of Data…………………………... 26
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II PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

Profile of Department Heads- Respondents................................... 26

Leadership Capabilities of the Department Heads in the

Municipality of San Vicente, Palawan …………….............. 29

Level of Practice of the Department Heads in the Municipality

of San Vicente, Palawan...................................................... 36

Correlation Coefficient Between the Office Performance Commitment

and Review (OPCR) rating of the respondents and
Leadership Capabilities ……………………………............ 42

III SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary…………………………………………………... 44

Findings …………………………………………………… 45

Conclusions ………………………………………………. 46

Recommendations ………………………………………... 49

BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………... 50

APPENDICES……………………………………………………. 54

CURRICULUM VITAE…………………………………………. 61
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LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 Distribution of Respondents and evaluator of the Study……... 24

2 Distribution of Profile Respondents......................................... 26

3 Leadership Capabilities of the department heads in the

Municipality of San Vicente, Palawan terms of motivation
to lead.............................................................................. 29

4 Leadership Capabilities of the department heads in the

Municipality of San Vicente, Palawan in terms of decision
making............................................................................. 31

5 Leadership Capabilities of the department heads in the

Municipality of San Vicente, Palawan terms of problem
solving ............................................................................ 32

6 Leadership Capabilities of the department heads in the

Municipality of San Vicente, Palawan terms of
professional and personal characteristics ....................... 34

7 Summary Table on Leadership Capabilities of the Department

Heads ……………………………………....................... 36

8 Level of practice of the department heads in the Municipality of

San Vicente, Palawan terms of performance of
duties..................................................... 37

9 Level of performance of the department heads in the

Municipality of San Vicente, Palawan terms of attitude
towards work/job............................................................ 38

10 Summary Table on the Level of Performance of the Department

Heads............................................................................... 40

11 Office Performance Commitment and Review Rating (OPCR) 41

of the Respondents

12 Correlation Coefficient between the Office Performance

Commitment and Review Rating (OPCR) and the
Leadership Capabilities of the Respondents................... 42
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