RA 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees”

February 20, 2009

TUCP welcomes comments regarding the services of other government agencies, particularly DOLE and its attached agencies.

The base law is RA 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees”. TUCP and its project partners started piloting monitoring government agencies’ compliance with this 1989 law in the TUCP/Solidarity Center /USAID Solidarity for Justice Project in 1999, years before the government adopted compliance with the law as a priority program. TUCP is proud continuing the joint work with target government agencies and LGUs on ways for them to improve compliance.

The law and its implementing rules require departments/ offices/agencies to:

• Act promptly [within 15 days] on letters and requests from the public.

• Process documents and papers expeditiously.

• Act immediately on the public’s transactions.

• Make documents accessible to the public.

• Develop and make available a service guide to the transacting public.

• Post in conspicuous places a workflow chart showing procedures or flow of documents.

• Establish information systems on (1) policies, rules and procedures; (2) work programs, projects, and performance targets; (3) all other documents classified as public information.

• Act promptly [within 15 days] on written requests, petitions or motions.

We are happy to have led the way and note that certain government agencies have appreciated the need for good implementation and are now doing what they are supposed to do. If the government agencies you are dealing with still do not have these things [there are many], tell us. We will help them comply with what is right.