ROLE AND INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE DECISION-MAKING OF LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVES IN BILIRAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Social media is one of the tools that most people rely for information and has become an effective venue for ordinary citizens to express their concerns and persuade government officials to take immediate actions to vital concerns. Further, this study is concerned with the role and influence of social media in influencing the decision-making of local chief executives on the following standpoints: local economy, emergency and disaster response, and civic engagements. The seven-step Colaizzi method was used to analyze the data from the eight Local Chief Executives (LCEs) in the Province of Biliran. Results of the study show that majority of the LCEs consider social media as partner of local governments’ development and as well as the aversion in some aspects of local governance.