Interactive Governance in Local Livelihood Programs: Evidence from DOLE Interventions in Isabela City, Basilan Province, Philippines

Abstract

This study evaluates the design, implementation, and economic outcomes of local livelihood programs implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Isabela City, Basilan Province, Philippines. Anchored in Jan Kooiman’s Interactive Governance Theory, the research examines how national policy directives are translated into local livelihood interventions through the coordinated actions of DOLE, accredited co-partners (ACPs), barangay councils, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and beneficiaries. The study responds to three questions: how DOLE designs and allocates livelihood support, how these programs are implemented through local partnerships, and what economic outcomes emerge from these interventions. Using a descriptive-evaluative case study design, the research integrates qualitative and quantitative methods. Primary data were gathered through key informant interviews, structured beneficiary interviews, and field observations, while secondary data were drawn from DOLE administrative reports, co-partner documents, barangay records, and national program benchmarks. Findings reveal that DOLE’s livelihood programs in Isabela City operate through a multi-actor governance model that combines hierarchical, co-governance, and self-governance modes. ACP-led projects demonstrated higher training intensity and slightly better asset utilization, while barangay-led projects showed stronger local ownership and faster implementation. Results indicate that most beneficiaries experienced modest income improvement, with 67% reporting increased income six months after participation. However, the sustainability of outcomes is constrained by delayed fund disbursement, weak post-intervention monitoring, limited income tracking, and security-related implementation challenges. The study concludes that livelihood governance in fragile, conflict-affected settings depends not only on resource allocation but also on adaptive coordination, institutional trust, and continuous feedback among governance actors. It recommends strengthening multi-actor coordination, institutionalizing outcome-based monitoring, enhancing barangay-level capacity, and integrating complementary financial and market support. The study contributes to public administration and development policy by demonstrating how interactive governance shapes livelihood outcomes in decentralized and post-conflict environments.