THE DOMINANT LEADERSHIP STYLES AMONG THE GOVERNMENT REGIONAL AGENCIES IN BICOL REGION

Leadership remains a central determinant of organizational effectiveness in public sector institutions, particularly in regions facing complex developmental and governance challenges. This study investigates the dominant leadership styles practiced by agency heads in regional government offices in the Bicol Region, Philippines, and examines how these styles influence leadership practices in supervision, resource management, project implementation, and service delivery. Utilizing a quantitative descriptive research design, data were collected through structured survey questionnaires administered to regional directors, assistant regional directors, and division chiefs. The findings reveal that bureaucratic leadership remains the most dominant style, followed by democratic leadership, indicating a hybrid leadership structure combining formal authority with participative governance. However, transformational leadership, while recognized globally as effective, appears less dominant in the local context. The study also identifies key leadership challenges, including limited resources, difficulty in monitoring employee performance, and maintaining motivation among staff. Based on the findings, a contextual leadership framework the CYNDI Model is proposed to enhance leadership effectiveness in public sector organizations. This research contributes to the literature by providing localized empirical evidence and offering actionable recommendations for leadership development in regional governance.