Red tape measures

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BY AYIN DREAM D. APLASCA
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February 7, 2018
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A FEW days ago, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) reported that government offices and government-owned and -controlled corporations have a significant improvement. This is in relation with the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) Report Card Survey done in 2017. The CSC reported that 81.65 percent passed the said survey.

You might wonder what this Anti-Red Tape Act is and why is there an annual survey in service offices of the government.

The ARTA was enacted to mandate government agencies to improve efficiency in the delivery of services to the public by reducing bureaucratic red tape, preventing graft and corruption, and providing penalties thereof. It aims to promote transparency by developing frontline service standards.

To accelerate the implementation of the said law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), the Office of the President issued in October 2008 Administrative Order No. 241, “Mandating the Speedy Implementation of Republic Act No. 9485 otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and Strengthening the Application Thereof.”

However, the said Administrative Order was amended to speed up the implementation, particularly on public assistance and complaints desk and hotlines.

The CSC said it has added violations listed in ARTA in the list of administrative offenses in the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.

Under the new rule, officials found guilty of indirect contempt or those who disobey or resist the directives of CSC, will be penalized with suspension of up to six months and a fine of P1,000 per day for every act of indirect contempt. This applies to appointive officials, presidential appointees and elective officials.

Employees who will commit first offense will face suspension for 30 days and mandatory attendance in the Values Operation Program.

For the second offense, civil servants will be suspended for up to three months without pay and for the third offense, they will be slapped with dismissal and perpetual disqualification from government post.

Among the important features of the administrative rule include the provisions on handling sexual harassment cases, introduction of different ways of conducting preliminary investigation and rule on payment of back wages and other similar benefits to an illegally dismissed/suspended official or employee.

In 2009, the CSC was given the responsibility of monitoring ARTA compliance and assessing performance in government frontline services. The law mandates that a Report Card Survey (RCS) should be carried out to facilitate the monitoring process.

Since 2010, the CSC is conducting the survey annually to measure overall client satisfaction, efficiency and compliance of local government units, national government agencies and government-owned and –controlled corporations.

The CSC said the survey focused on two core areas: 1.) compliance with ARTA and 2.) overall client satisfaction.

Common corrupt practices plus the general public’s mindset that poor public service has always been and will remain poor will certainly compromise service delivery. As a result, citizen and government engagement is low and ineffectual.

We should remember that governance is a shared responsibility. The people should be aware that they can also be a part of the solution in avoiding corruption, and eradicating red tape. This will certainly improve public service delivery by engaging with the government responsibly and knowing their rights.

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(Atty. Ayin Dream D. Aplasca practices her profession in Iloilo City. She may be reached thru ayindream.aplasca@gmail.com/PN)
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