Vol. 34 Nos. 3-4 (July-December 2013)
EROPA holds 2nd Stories to
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(From page 48)
decentralization. He explained that the Doi Moi
reform process transformed the economy of Vietnam
to allow private enterprises and industries a hand in
producing goods and services. However, he noted
that the centrally-planned economic infrastructure
remained highly bureaucratic, allowing only decision
making at the higher level without clear delineation of
responsibilities. This triggered the call to decentralize
some of the functions of the government to the
localities.
EROPA Bulletin
49
Mendoza is new
EROPA Deputy
Secretary-General
Dr. Maria Fe V.
Mendoza, Professor
and Dean of the UP
National College of
Public Administration
and
Governance
(NCPAG), is the
new EROPA Deputy
Dr. Doanh enumerated a number of necessitites Secretary-General
and requirements for economic reform in Vietnam: for Research and
1) international integration and commitment to Publications. She
international laws and agreements; 2) political reform; succeeded the former NCPAG dean, Dr. Edna A. Co,
and 3) public administration reform.
who ended her term last August 2013.
Dr. Doanh pointed out that the Vietnam government
has, since the Doi Moi, responded to the call for public
administration reform. Many laws and decrees were
revised to simplify administrative processes, allow for
fiscal autonomy, clearly define civil service functions,
and promote transparency and accountability. Since
the implementation of Resolution 08 in 2004, most of
the functions of the central government in planning
and management of resources, social services and
public enterprises were devolved to the provinces.
This allowed local governments to take the lead in
administering public services and participate in decision
making processes.
However, Dr. Doanh remarked that decentralization of
some of the functions of the central government posed
serious implications, particularly on the ability of local
governments to perform the devolved functions. He
emphasized the importance of capacity building in local
governments for decentralization to be more effective.
He also pointed out the need to “foster a culture of
change” in the government institutions.
Prior to serving as NCPAG dean, Dr. Mendoza, was
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the UP Open
University from 2007-2013. She obtained her Bachelor
of Science degree in Education (major in Mathematics),
with summa cum laude honors, in 1978 at the Philippine
Normal College, Manila. She finished her Master of
Arts degree in Demography at the University of the
Philippines in 1984, and earned her Doctoral degree in
Public Administration in 2003 at the same university.
She pursued her Masters degree in Development
Studies at the Institute of Social Sciences, The Hague,
Netherlands, in 1990, before attaining a Certificate
in Public Enterprise Reform and Privatization at the
University of Manchester, U.K.
Dr. Mendoza teaches undergraduate and graduate
courses on public policy, public enterprise management,
development models, administrative theories and
governance. Moreover, she has written, edited and
published journal articles, chapters and books on public
sector reform, public policy, regulation, privatization,
corporate governance, distance education, open
universities, co-creation of knowledge, and Philippine
competitiveness, among others.