Government work flowcharts Compliance to Arroyo order to be checked

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has asked the help of Lihok Filipina Foundation, Inc. to create a working team to follow-up on the compliance to President Gloria Arroyo's Memorandum Circular No. 35 on the publication of service guides and posting of workflow charts for the benefit of the transacting public.

In a related development, the Regional Development Council has adopted a resolution a reiterating the body's request to the remaining 51 government agencies/offices and local government units to comply with the said memorandum circular during its full council meeting in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, last Friday.

The Civil Service Commission has also been requested to submit to the RDC a copy of their monitoring report on regular basis, as it is the said government agency tasked to monitor the compliance of MC No. 35.

During the deliberation of the matter, Lihok Filipina executive director Tessie Fernandez, who also sits as one of Cebu's private sector representatives to the RDC, said the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas called up them two weeks ago requesting their office to create a working team to follow up on the compliance of the government agencies and LGUs to the president's memorandum circular.

When Dumaguete City Mayor Agustin Ramon Perdices asked if they will be sanctioned for non-compliance, Fernandez said ignoring the order may mean violation of Republic Act 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and thus they can be sanctioned.

Valeriano "Bobit" Avila, also a private sector representative to the RDC, said the president's memorandum circular is aimed at improving public service so that the transacting public will be guided with their transactions.

He said it is an acknowledged fact that there is government bureaucracy where people are given a runaround in their government transactions.

"I think this is where good governance comes into play... This will ease the tension between the government and the taxpayers," he said.

Perdices agreed with Avila's point but said he did not like the "threat" from the Ombudsman on possible sanctions.

Last March 17, 2003 Arroyo issued MC No. 35, directing all government agencies to implement the publication of service guides and the posting of workflow charts to facilitate availment of government agencies by the transacting public.

And although the RDC already passed Resolution No. 63, enjoining all regional line agencies and LGUs in the region to implement MC No. 35 by the end of March only 15 out of the 50 regional line agencies/offices were able to comply with the said directive.

In addition, the 16 LGUs within the region have yet to comply. - Cristina C. Birondo