Tangken ulo

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

Call it tangkenulo or hard-headedness, my bubwit says, but many local government units and line agencies in the Cordillera were found out by the Civil Service Commission to have not complied with provisions of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007.

This, despite being warned by the CSC last year to comply with the law’s provisions or face sanctions. Since the warning was not heeded, the CSC – Cordillera has again reminded these wayward government offices to implement the law.

It is a wonder why this can’t be implemented by these government “servants.”My bubwit says most these officials or employees being paid by taxpayers’ money, to state the obvious, are not bulging from the comfort zones.

Ni, apayngay Apo?He says these officials may have grown accustomed to their perks like travelling a lot for the per diems ordoing nothing by doing something 

Are they hiding something or are just plain inept, lazy or corrupt?, he asks. Go figure.CSC-CAR assistant regional director Cornelia Rillera said once more with feelings that several regional line agencies and local government units in the Cordillera region have failed the 2011 Report Card Survey again in their recent on-the-spot inspection of government offices.

To be redundant, she said CSC officials found out some were not still complying with provisions of the ARTA.

During inspection of the Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board office in Pacdal, Baguio City, CSC officials noticed several violations which were not corrected since their last inspection last year.

Among findings were lack of a public assistance and complaints desk (PACD), non-observance of the no-lunch break rule and not placing a visible Citizen’s Charter including flow chart and services rendered.

The regional and field offices of CSC have been conducting ARTA Watch or spot-checks to monitor compliance of government offices on ARTA provisions like “Anti-Fixer Campaign”.

Among agencies checked for ARTA compliance were  National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation ,  Local Civil Registrar and City Health Office of  Baguio City,  Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and La Trinidad Water District.

Inspections were also conducted among local government units to include Kalinga, Ifugao, Abra, and Benguet. Results were dismal, so CSC officials showed those inspected copies of  simplified service delivery excellence program (SDEP) and ARTA Watch Reports as “guide in strengthening and improving their services.”

My bubwit says the CSC could give officials who head these LGUs or line agencies to shape up until the new year in the interest of the yuletide season. He adds a few days of vacation should sober up their addled brains or attitude, unless they are perennially drunk with the spirits or power.

Since it is the time for making new year resolutions, the CSC could make it a point next year to initiate moves to have these wayward officials or employees shape up, he insists. Otherwise, he adds they can be suspended or fired.

That should be good fireworks to greet the new year in line with daang matuwid. If not, he says, P-Noy should be made aware that red tape is still alive as ever among his minions.