Government agencies undergo spot checks

BAGUIO CITY ,Philippines  – The Civil Service Commission is spearheading spot checks on government agencies to further boost the drive against cheats in government.

To bolster the implementation of Republic Act No. 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, the CSC has launched the ARTA Watch to spot check agencies, said CSC Cordillera director Fernando Porio.

CSC office Memorandum No. 33, series of 2011 issued on April 29 contained this spot checking of government offices with a corresponding report card survey (RCS) to gather actual feedback from customers in availing government service.

In the Cordillera, at least 35 government agencies undergo RCS, Porio said.

Government agencies that meet the highest standard of customer satisfaction shall be conferred the Seal of Excellence Award, Porio added, while those who obtained average to low RCS rating shall undergo a training on Service Delivery Excellence Program to further streamline processes and procedures in the agency.

Porio said that CSC officials will make unannounced visits to agencies in their offices to spot check if agencies are not cheating on their work or following policies like “no lunch break,” anti-fixer, citizen’s charter, public assistance and complaints desk, identification cards, basic facilities and physical setup.

Spot checks will be documented and made public, Porio said.

Last March, several regional government agencies in the Cordillera region were found violating the anti-red tape law. In a spot check inspection by no less than CSC chairman Francisco Duque III, he “scolded” several government agencies for also violating the Citizens Charter.

Topping violators of the anti-red tape law were the regional branch offices of the Land Transportation Office and the Government Service Insurance System.

Duque caught the LTO regional office violating the “no noon break policy” when he chanced upon the office closed during lunch time. The mandated skeletal force manning the frontline service at lunch time was reportedly missing.

Duque who “talked” with clients at the LTO also found out that the office closes all transactions as early as 11 a.m. and resumes operations at 1 p.m.

The LTO was also found out having no citizens charter signage, signs specifying fees, and anti-fixer posters in their transaction areas.

The GSIS also showed the same violations, Duque said, adding even the NBI.

Duque warned appropriate cases will be filed against erring government workers. –Artemio Dumlao (The Philippine Star)