Stewardship, Good Governance, and Ethics: Challenges and Opportunities

This research explores stewardship, good governance, and ethics practices among Local Government Unit (LGU) officials in Negros Occidental’s first district, intending to diagnose systemic challenges and identify strategic opportunities for governance enhancement. Grounded in New Public Management, Public Value Management, Principal-Agent, and Social Capital theories, the study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. A structured survey collected quantitative data from 879 respondents and a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with five public officials. Results showed stewardship and ethical standards were consistently “often practiced,” with resource allocation perceived more positively than technology adoption and decentralization efforts. Significant differences were noted across demographic profiles, particularly concerning age, sex, and length of service. Qualitative findings emphasized persistent issues, including limited financial resources, inadequate technological infrastructure, and low levels of proactive citizen engagement, while highlighting opportunities through digital transformation and participatory policy development. The study contributes to public administration by affirming the necessity of integrated governance reforms that strengthen accountability, foster transparency, and leverage technology for improved service delivery. Recommendations include investment in digital infrastructure, development of inclusive governance frameworks, and continuous leadership capacity-building. Future research should consider longitudinal approaches and comparative studies across diverse LGU contexts to deepen the understanding of governance dynamics at the local level.