Editorial

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

CSC Report Card Survey 

Reveals Failed Expectation

The Civil Service Commission (CSC), an agency tasked to implement the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 (ARTA) released recently its maiden Report Card Survey of 599 government agencies and government owned/or controlled corporations. The basis is the minimum service standards embodied in the Citizens’ Charter that exemplifies efficiency and effectivity in the work place of all civil service personnel. 

Like a grade schooler’s report card, marks are either excellent, good, acceptable or failed. It pinpoints areas of deficiency and recommends remedial measures such as personnel upgrade, reshuffle and others. By no means, harsher penalties are imposed but to remind offices involved of their commitment to serve their clienteles with utmost dedication and selfless interest. Accountability and transparency are obviously the goal of governance vigorously pursued by the Administration of Pres. Benigno C. Aquino III. 

The 2012 Report Card Survey (RCS) shows offices that got excellent marks is 50 (8.3 percent), good – 192 (32.0 percent), acceptable – 78 (13.0 percent) and failed – 279 (46.5 percent).

In Aklan BIR, DTI and Philhealth got good ratings. Social Security System (SSS) is acceptable. The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) failed. It could not be denied that heads of BIR, DTI and Philhealth created the more favorable environment conducive for growth, trust and efficiency. SSS is on the borderline because visiting clients got suffocated in damped and overcrowded quarters. A defining moment in a failed office like the GSIS is when you are told it takes two weeks before your paper is completely processed. Well and good. Days passed. Afterwards a GSIS member visits the office. He is informed “you must wait until a week or so.” 

In this digital age of computers and super phones, why can’t a government office have a minimum of three working days to act on matter or specific need? Delays or inaction on the problem over unnecessary length of time is considered red tape under the law.

Mr. Ferdinand Macogue, Administrative Officer V of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Aklan said that the GSIS Satellite Office personnel in Kalibo headed by Mr. Ronnie Alba have undertaken re-orientation training on office management. Meanwhile, closed monitoring is pursued by CSC to improve its service delivery. 

ARTA is fully implemented by LGU Kalibo, the reason why it has earned Seal of Good Housekeeping from DILG. For the majority of offices which have either failed or earned “acceptable” marks must exert greater efforts. Nobody is indispensable hence office personnel can be replaced by a productive one.

Basically, RCS show that the majority of the 1.2 million government employees and that of the government owned/or controlled corporations do not perform according to public expectations. Paradoxically, pay raises and fringe benefits have been unprecedented since the last decade. However, motivation to work and improve the services are not internalized among employees. “Tuwid na daan” is virtually littered with holes, twists and bumps. 

For the good guys, it’s time to celebrate. For the unfortunate ones, a painful time for self examination and reckoning. Let’s not forget there’s plenty of room for improvement. /MP