PUNA Ni JOEL AMONGO

KUNG sisilipin po natin ang kautusan ng Civil Service Commission (CSC) ay hindi uso sa kanila ang bigayan pagdating ng Pasko na tradisyon ng mga Pilipino.

Kamakalawa, nagpalabas ng “holiday reminders” ang CSC sa lahat ng mga manggagawa sa gobyerno.

Ipinagbabawal sa kanila ang pag-solicit ng regalo na may kaugnayan sa holiday season o Kapaskuhan.

Base sa Section 7 (d) ng Republic Act No. 6713 o ang Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, “public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office”.

Karagdagan nito, sa Section 3 ng Republic Act No. 3109 o Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, “provides that the following, among other acts or omissions, are declared to be unlawful:

b) “Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present, share, percentage, or benefit, for himself or for any other person, in connection with any contract or transaction between the Government and any other party, wherein the public officer in his official capacity has to intervene under the law”;

c) “Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present or other pecuniary or material benefit, for himself or for ­another, from any person for whom the public officer, in any manner or capacity, has secured or obtained, or will secure or obtain, any ­government permit or license, in coordination for help given or to be given..”

Narito naman ang pahayag ni CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles, “Bagama’t bahagi na ng ating kulturang Pilipino ang pagiging mapagbigay lalo na sa panahon ng Kapaskuhan, tandaan po natin na ang ating serbisyo bilang lingkod bayan ay binabayaran na ng taumbayan, ang ating buwanang sahod”.

“If there is a client or applicant, supplier or contractor, or any other individual, group, or company that you transacted business or regularly transact business with, who is extending a gift or token to you, just politely decline and explain that you are only doing your job. Sa madaling salita, trabaho lang po,” pahayag pa ni Nograles.

Sinabi pa ni Nograles, kasama rin sa nasabing batas ang pag-solicit ng sponsorships o advertisements, tulad ng raffle prizes para sa Christmas o year-end-parties.

Ibig sabihin, bawal tumanggap ng regalo ang mga ­empleyado ng gobyerno?

Ito pa ang sinabi ni Nograles, “that the heads of government agencies may issue an internal ‘no gift policy’ to guide their officials and employees as it pertains to their respective mandates and job functions”.

Pero paano pala ‘yung mga tanggapan ng gobyerno na may magaganap na Christmas parties?

At hindi lang ‘yan, usong-uso ‘yan na may mga dinadalang regalo sa mga tanggapan ng mga boss ng opisina ng gobyerno.

Dapat pala tumulong ang media sa pagkuha ng mga picture o video na may dinadalang mga regalo sa mga opisina ng mga hepe ng government agencies at isumbong kay Nograles.

Ang tanong? Kaya kayang pigilan ni Nograles kung ang regalong dinala ay para sa isang cabinet member? Merry Christmas po, chairperson Nograles, sir.

oOo

Para sa suhestiyon at ­reaksyon, mag-email sa joel2amongo@yahoo.com o mag-text sa cell# 0977-751-1840.