CES C.I.R.C.L.E. FORUM TALKS ON CORRUPTION

A CES (career executive service) forum, the 2nd of  C.I.R.C.L.E. series, was recently held, focusing on the issue of corruption with Presidential Anti-Graft Commission chair Constancia P. de Guzman as its keynote speaker.

The CES C.I.RC.L.E. (Creative Innovations and Reforms for Committed Leadership and Effectiveness) is a multi-sectoral thematic forum which features exemplary and pioneering leaders from the members of the CES and from the other sectors who have distinguished themselves within their life ethic, work accomplishments and milestone contributions in governance and development.

Sponsored by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the one-day symposium had its theme, “Anong Lagay Natin?: A Dialgoue on Fighting Corruption”, and it highlighted the efforts and challenges of certain agencies and CESOs (career executive service officers) in combating corruption.

It likewise featured the best practices in promoting transparency and accountability in operations. Present to share their insights and experiences were last year’s GAWAD CES awardee and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional director Jovita P. Ayson, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) assistant commissioner Manolo A. Rodriguez, BOC deputy commissioner Reynaldo V. Umali, and Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary David J. Lozada Jr.

Director Ayson shared her courageous fight against illegal poaches in the marine-rich coasts of Region II and talked of her resolve to “do my duty to the best of my ability” amidst the danger of threat to her life. She also narrated how she was the subject of a harassment case filed by the very perpetrators of the crime she was trying to reduce.

Assistant Commissioner Rodriguez tackled on the programs and systems that the BIR has put in place to make it less corrupt as traditionally widely perceived. He presented BIR’s e-Services, RATE (Run After Tax Evaders) program, case monitoring system, efforts to strengthen internal controls, and the conduct of public service ethics seminars.

Deputy Commissioner Umali pointed out corruption in customs administration “results often when the customs officer has wide discretion to make decisions without appropriate supervision in an environment without sound internal controls or fear of possible post audit, detection, investigation and prosecution.” He also mentioned the RATS (Run After the Smugglers) program that intensifies prosecution of smugglers and enhances revenue collection as well as the other integrity development initiatives to support the e-Customs
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project to enhance interconnectivity (i.e., online verification) of the BOC with other government agencies to “identify fly-by-night importers and lessen potential smugglers.”

“The BOC feels the need to partner with the private sector to ensure transparency and integrity in revenue collection,” said Deputy Commissioner Umali.

On the other hand, Undersecretary Lozada discussed about the whistleblowing phenomenon and traced the history of corruption “when local administrators in ancient
Egypt hoarded and sold grains for profit.” He pointed to the concept of  “corruption in fatigue” when people have come to accept bribes, special favors, political connection and jumping queues in public places as inevitable facts of life.

Moreover, Usec Lozada shared his lessons in effective whistleblowing. “A whistleblower must be determined for traveling by boat prepares for the wetting. He must be clear of his intention and be enlightened for clear conscience never fears midnight knocking. He must secure his information and save the best for the last for fortunes and flowers do not last forever.  He must be bold for it is simple to open a shop; another thing to keep them open. He must learn from others for to know the road ahead, you must ask those coming back.”

BOC Commissioner Alexander Arevalo synthesized the issues raised by the speakers while Deputy Ombudsman Emilio A. Gonzalez chaired the forum.

The series of CES C.I.RC.L.E., which confers the equivalent of four training credits to the participant, will run until October 2009.

For inquiries on this year’s calendar of the CES C.I.R.C.L.E. Forum, you may access http://www.cesboard.gov.ph or contact Tel. Nos. 9514981 loc. 108/109/113/127 or 9520335 at CESB’s Professional Development Division.