Digital Governance in Philippine Public Administration: A Study on Digital Maturity and Governance Outcomes in the City of Koronadal

Abstract

This study assesses the relationship between digital transformation and local public administration by evaluating citizen perceptions and governance outcomes of the Koronadal City Portal. Although e-governance can improve transparency and efficiency, Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Philippines face significant infrastructure and implementation challenges. This study fills a critical gap in the literature by investigating the self-reported evaluations of 405 clients who used the portal for business permit applications and renewals. In this study, a quantitative descriptive correlational design was used, with a modified survey instrument based on the OECD Digital Government Index (DGI) and good governance theory. A composite assessment of digitalization was carried out across four dimensions: digital by design, data-driven public sector, government as a platform, and user-driven, while governance outcomes were assessed with an emphasis on satisfaction, efficiency, and civic participation. Through statistical analysis using the mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient, it was found that the level of digitalization is “Very High” (M = 3.30), with the Data-Driven Public Sector dimension being the highest (M = 3.36) among all others. Similarly, governance outcome was rated as “Highly Evident” (M = 3.26). Ultimately, the analysis revealed a strong and positive correlation (r = 0.739, p = < .001) between digitalization and governance outcomes. Despite these promising results, the “User-Driven” dimension has been rated the lowest (M = 3.25), indicating a need for strong “closed-loop” feedback. The study found that digitalization is strongly associated with the City of Koronadal’s effective local governance. Recommendations include prioritizing inclusive service design, expanding the digital platform into a “one-stop-shop” model to streamline processes and improve overall transaction efficiency, and moving from passive feedback to active civic engagement so that technology investment results in a real, citizen-centric government.