DIGITAL GOVERNANCE PRACTICES IN SELECTED BARANGAYS IN NORTH CALOOCAN CITY: BASIS FOR A PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Abstract

The continuous adoption of digital technology in barangay public offices has created opportunities to improve public service delivery, but challenges in implementation may affect its effectiveness. This study aimed to determine the level of effectiveness of digital governance in selected barangay public offices in North Caloocan City in terms of reliability, consistency, accessibility, convenience, and transparency and accountability. It also examined whether respondents' assessments were related to age or differed by respondent classification, gender, and position/designation, and identified the challenges encountered in implementing digital governance. The study employed a descriptive-quantitative research design and gathered data from 150 barangay staff from selected public offices in Barangays 175, 177, 184, and 185 through a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequency and percentage, weighted mean, independent-samples t-test, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H, and Spearman rho at the 0.05 level of significance. Digital governance was generally perceived as effective. Regular employees strongly agreed that digital governance is effective in terms of reliability (3.41), consistency (3.36), accessibility (3.27), convenience (3.39), and transparency and accountability (3.36); public officials gave higher ratings on all five dimensions (3.47–3.63). There was no significant relationship between age and the respondents' assessment of digital governance effectiveness (Spearman ρ = −0.004, p = 0.962). A significant difference was found when respondents were grouped according to gender (Mann–Whitney U = 3246.50, p = 0.049), but not according to position/designation (Kruskal–Wallis H = 7.507, p = 0.677). Regular employees and public officials differed significantly in four dimensions but not in consistency. Respondents sometimes encountered challenges in implementing digital governance (composite mean = 2.75), most commonly slow or unstable internet connection (2.97) and system errors or technical breakdowns (2.93). Digital governance in the selected barangay public offices is perceived as effective, but connectivity, technical, equipment, skills, and coverage-related challenges remain. The findings provide a basis for the proposed improvement plan to further strengthen digital governance in the selected barangay public offices.