EDITORIAL

The NPT on its 9th year

As the Northern Philippine Times faces more challenges for another year, its publisher would like to express thanks to the driving forces behind it to include staff, reporters correspondents, contributors, nongoverment organizations, government officials and employees, advertisers, readers and those who in one way or another made the NPT survive another year.

For sure, there would be challenges ahead in the coming years for the NPT as it adapts to challenges in technology, printing costs among others. But for sure, it would stand for what journalism is all about – truth and objectivity in its reportage. As we strive for excellence as a member of the Fourth Estate, the NPT would like to reiterate that is pages are open to anybody who would like to have a say about topics of interest to readers.

So on its ninth year, a toast for everybody is in order. Thank You!


Intensifying campaign against fixers

With the series of corruption scandals involving government officials, it is a tall order for the Civil Service Commission to rid the bureaucracy of red tape and corruption like on “fixing.” The CSC recently issued memorandum Circular 6, s. 2009 to intensify the campaign against fixers.

Earlier, the CSC issued Memorandum Circular No. 17, s. 2008 which enjoined government agencies to disseminate Republic Act No. 9485 known as “Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, including its provisions against fixers. The CSC and the Ombudsman recently initiated the “Fix the Fixers Campaign” to underscore government’s resolve against fixing notwithstanding impeachment charges filed against Ombudsman’s Office top official Merceditas Gutierrez.

To ensure interest and wide participation of the public, CSC MC No. 6, s. 2009 directed all government agencies to adapt the CSC anti-fixer campaign tarpaulin banner and ‘Fix the Fixer’ calling card which provide the telephone number hotlines of the office of the Ombudsman: 0926-6994703, (02)9272404; and the CSC: Text CSC at 0917-8398272 and (02)9320111, where incidents of fixing should be reported. The design of the model banner and calling card can be downloaded from the CSC website (www.csc.gov.ph).

The memorandum circular said tarpaulin banners are to be posted at the most conspicuous places or where government frontline services are provided and should already be permanently posted by end of March 2009; the calling cards are for continuous distribution to the public.
Funds for this undertaking may be sourced from the allotted one half of one percent of the agencies’ MOOE for the implementation of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, to be provided in the 2009 budget.

The CSC regional and field offices have been instructed to monitor agencies’ compliance with the CSC MC No. 6, s. 2009. In the Cordillera, the CSC is requesting all government agencies in the region to provide feedback report of compliance with CSC MC 6, s. 2009 as well as to share their efforts in implementation of the Anti-Red Tape Law and the Anti-Fixer Campaign to the CSC regional office at telephone numbers (074) 442-8012 or 443-5982 or e-mail at cscro14@yahoo.com. The CSC-Cordillera has also enjoined the public to actively participate and report any fixing activities either to the Office of the Ombudsman or the CSC hotline numbers.

The Civil Service Commission had also launched its “citizen’s charter” that is required of all government agencies under the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007. The citizen’s charter will guide clients of each government agency in accessing frontline services to promote faster and transparent service in the bureaucracy.

Based on official reports submitted to the commission, only the CSC and the city government of Manila have so far accomplished their citizen’s charters. The CSC’s citizen’s charter covers 13 frontline services rendered by its central and regional offices, and includes a step-by-step procedure of each service, the fees and requirements needed, and the maximum processing time and the employee responsible for each step. Anybody listening?