Relationship between Local Chief Executive’s Character Traits and Governance Practices in Northern Samar, Philippines

This study evaluated the character traits and governance practices of local government officials in the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Northern Samar. The findings of the study would generally benefit not only the stakeholders of the local government units in the province but also in the national government. Specifically, findings of the study would benefit the LGU Chief Executives. The results of this study would provide the chief an opportunity to evaluate the relationships that exists between their character traits and governance practices. In effect, they may realize their strengths and weaknesses in running the local government. This study utilized the Big Five-character trait dimensions also known as Five Factor Model consisting of the five traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism were also determined. This research includes Local Chief Executives (LCEs) in the municipalities of Northern Samar. A total of 12 LCEs were randomly selected to participate in this study. The governance practices such as transparency, participation, accountability, leadership, general organization and governance, inter-governmental relations, rule of law continuity in the implementation of programs, predictability and sustainability, preference for the poor, and effective, responsive provision of basic services were correlated with character traits of the local executives. The respondents of the study are the current LCEs and selected employees with permanent status in the municipalities covered. Significant difference was found between local chief executives and employees’ perception on the character traits of the LCEs. Significant difference on the agreeableness as character trait means that the degree to which the LCEs is able to get along with others by being good-natured, cooperative, forgiving, compassionate, understanding, and trusting is higher than the employees and stakeholders did not differ significantly. The test of relationship between the chief executives’ character traits and governance practices showed that openness is significantly correlated with transparency, participation and leadership.