Fix the fixers: Text to Ombuds, CSC
YOU come to a government office for a transaction. Just as you alight from your car, this widely grinning man comes and offers to “fix it out for you, for a fee.”
Relax, a fixer just has offered his “exceptional” service to you.
Exceptional, because the task which you can probably complete with nary a hitch is now offered to you “sans the hassle.”
The hassle actually is having to through the “long queue” and having “to wait” and wonder at how a government employee could sit on your papers if you don’t bleed with “lubricating money”.
It’s no big deal and really for a fixer who has to “grease his way” to smoothen your papers by most likely bribing an insider and thus tripping a long line of red-tape rolling up to the top man in the organization. Tired of such things? Try this.
The Office of the Ombudsman has lately come up with a mechanism to fix the fixers. And it is just a text or call away.
The Ombudsman along with the Civil Service Commission (CS) has engaged into gear the Anti Red Tape Law, or Republic Act 9485 to “fix the fixers” by throwing the book on them and slapping them with stiff penalties.
RA 9485 imposes imprisonment of as long as six years and or a fine of up to P200,000 or both, the law states.
No big deal really. All you need to do is report the name of the fixer, name and location of the government office, the date and the type of transaction to the Office of the Ombudsman through 0926-699-4703 or call (02) 927-4102 or 927-2404.
The CSC has also a hotline and you may also text to 0917-839- 8272 or call (02) 932-0111.
As this developed, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has commended the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for being the first state agency to comply substantially with RA 9485.
She made the commendation during her brief visit to the BOC headquarters in Manila to personally check on the agency’s implementation of the law and its reportedly enhanced operations efficiency.
BOC Commissioner Napoleon Morales, Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) president Antonio Kalaw, and Civil Service Commission (CSC) Assistant Commissioner Anicia De Lima were on hand to welcome the President who was accompanied by Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya.
De Lima said the President’s visit was to highlight the agency’s compliance with RA 9485 and stress her resolve to curb red tape and illegal transactions in government offices. (rachiu/PIA)
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