Corruption, Unreliable and Inefficient Services, Selfish-interest in government

machineries and financial aspects, and most specifically bureaucratic red-tape, and
etc. these are just few of the reasons why the Filipino people do not believe that
there is hope for the Philippine Government. The foul cry of the citizen against the
inexpedient processes that is presently within the bureaucracy has been a complete
shatter of the government services towards the Filipino people. They call for an end
to this suffering but probably only a few recognize and are cognizant that, despite
these issues lurking and considerably defiling bureaucratic reputation, the
Legislature has already passed laws addressing these concerns. For instance, RA
6713 or properly known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
Officials and Employees, was already a standing law since 1989 while on the other
hand, The Anti-red Tape Law in the Philippines (RA 9485) was already existing and
effective since 2007. The problem may lie in its implementation but before we look
to that ineffectiveness and inefficiency- lest we are not well aware of the law- let us
know their salient features.
The following are the salient features of RA 6713:
1. It applies to all officials and employees in the government, elective and
appointive, permanent or temporary, whether in the career or non-career
service, including military and police personnel. Whether or not they receive
compensation, regardless of amount.
2. It sets forth the Norms of Conduct for Public Officials. The Code requires the
observance of certain standards of personal conduct in the discharge and
execution of official duties:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

commitment to public interest;

professionalism;
justness and sincerity;
political neutrality;
responsiveness to the public;
nationalism and patriotism;
commitment to democracy; and
simple living.

3. It advocates for a clean and accountable government. As provided for in

Section 2 of the law - the State shall promote a high standard of ethics in
public service. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable
to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility,
integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead
modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest.
4. It sets an incentive system which allows public officials to better serve and
improve their service to the Filipino people- the promotional incentive and the
increase in salary grade bolsters the implementation of this law.
5. And finally and most importantly- it mandates a filing of Statement of Assets
and Liabilities and Financial Disclosure. This is indubitably an essential part
and process of being a public official because government officials/

employees occupy positions vested with public trust. Thus, requiring him/her
to put public interest over and above his/her own. The primary use of the
information on the SALN form is to exhibit transparency and accountability.
On the other hand, RA 9485, provides for these important matters;

1. It was passed in response to the urgent need to establish an effective system

that will eliminate bureaucratic red tape, avert graft and corrupt practices
and improve efficiency of delivering government frontline services as
provided for in Article II, Sec 27 of the 1987 Constitution where it states that
the State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and shall
take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.
2. It applies to all government offices and agencies
units, and
government-owned or-controlled
frontline services, excluding those performing
legislative functions but the frontline services of
included.

Including local government

corporations that provide
judicial, quasi-judicial and
these agencies are deemed

3. It requires for a preparation of a Citizens Charter in the form of information

billboards which should be posted at the main entrance of offices or at the
most conspicuous place, and in the form of published materials written either
in English or in the local dialect that detail the following:
a. The procedure to obtain a particular service;
b.

The person/s responsible for each step;

c.

The maximum time to conclude the process;

d.

The document/s to be presented by the customer, if necessary;

e.

The amount of fees, if necessary;

f.

(f) The procedure for filing complaints.

4. It prescribes for processes for accessing frontline services. The frontline

services refer to the transactions between clients and government offices or
agencies involving applications for any privilege, right, permit, reward,
license, concession, or for any modification, renewal or extension of the
enumerated applications and or requests which are acted upon in the
ordinary course of business of the agency or office concerned. It is
fundamental that when transacting with a frontline service personnel the
applicant must be adept of the instructions provided for in Section 8 of RA
9485. It is also important that all of the personnel must have identification
card for easy assistance.

5. Also very crucial is the provision mentioned in Section 9 of the Act mandating
for an automatic extension of permits and licenses. If a government office or
agency fails to act on an application and or request for renewal of a license,
permit or authority subject for renewal within the prescribed period, said
permit, license or authority shall automatically be extended until a decision
or resolution is rendered on the application for renewal: Provided, That the
automatic extension shall not apply when the permit, license, or authority
covers activities which pose danger to public health, public safety, public
morals or to public policy including, but not limited to, natural resource
extraction activities.(Section 9 RA 9485).
6. It tackles of the rampant existence of fixers which also, in one way or
another, contribute to the slow-pace and inexpedient processing of
documents. In this light, the law punishes fixers and violators of this Act.
7. And lastly, it exempts any public official/employee or person having been
charged with another under the Act and who voluntarily gives information
pertaining to an investigation or who willingly testifies to the commission of
the violation.
Bearing all these important and essential features of those abovementioned laws, it
should be easier and more convenient for Filipinos to transact with our government
agencies/ offices, however the relevant question would be- Are these laws
implemented properly? Are all Filipinos apprised of the provisions of these laws, or
do they even know that these laws exist?
Admittedly, RA 9485 and RA 6713 provides for a framework for governmental
action to combat the issues against graft and corruption thru curtailing red-tape
bureaucracy and empowering and enforcing the bureaucratic system. Most of the
applicants who could have availed of these laws are those low to middle income
earners, considering that a mass of the population of the Philippines comes from
those aforementioned groups. If we inquire these people of the benefits and
advantages and even existence of these laws, the most abundant reaction would be
seeing their surprised and astounded faces. But while this suggestion is too general
and could be hypothetical, the continued existence of fixers and the constant
violation of public officials most specifically those elected ones is a legitimate proof
that these laws are not implemented properly and the people are definitely not
aware of such existence of these laws. It is even crucial to note that while these
laws have already been existing, the problems and issues revolving in it seems to
not have yet slowed down these past few years, it continues to persists and make
the government an institution not worthy of respect.
On the one hand, while the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
Officials is widely present in all offices of the government and that the Anti-Red Tape
Law is administered by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Presidential AntiGraft Commission (PAGC) or the Office of the Ombudsman, this law also needs great
support from the public which now this actually shifts the burden from the State to
the Individual because improving and making the government viable and efficient is
not just a work that is attributable to the government, it is also to be acknowledged
that the people have a responsibility in order that this country will progress.

To sum, while there are good laws at present that would conduct standard
and enforce trust and integrity to the public office, these laws are not in itself
properly implemented making it just a piece of paper ready to be blown by strong
winds and torn by big waves. When this happens, the government is a no longer
viable institution- however, the viability of our public office is not only a State
responsibility, the people has a greater responsibility of making that government an
efficient one, and this would entail a lot of observation and intervention in
government actions.