Restoring trust in bureaucracy crucial to PH recovery — Bongbong
Presidential aspirant Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday said he is determined to restore the trust and confidence of the Filipino people in government bureaucracy should he be given the mandate to serve as President of the country.
Marcos added that besides formulating and effectively implementing a post-pandemic plan, the country’s recovery depends on how the people view the entire bureaucracy. He said the people’s support would determine the success or failure of new policies.
“We will work hard to bring back the trust of our people in government and the bureaucracy since without their wholehearted support, not much will be accomplished. The country cannot afford to have animosity exist between public servants and our people. The failure or success of new policies in a post-pandemic environment will hinge on their support,” Marcos added.
As of 2017, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) recorded 1,569,585 career service personnel included in the government’s official roster. Government workers in five major subdivisions of National Government Agencies (NGAs), GOCCs, State Universities and Colleges, Local Water Districts, and Local Government Units (LGUs).
The CSC record also shows that NGAs have the largest share of career service personnel, with 1,146,337, representing 73% of the total number of career service personnel from all major subdivisions.
“Throughout this pandemic, government workers were stretched to their limits. Most chose to work silently amid the threat of Covid-19 and remained unheralded for their contribution. As a public servant myself, I take offense to the negatively stereotyped view on government workers,” Marcos said.
Marcos also decried the demoralizing effect of blanket criticisms on government workers.
“Critics tend to forget that public servants are first and foremost people and therefore not infallible. When blanket criticisms are levied on a particular government department, it has a demoralizing effect on the entire department,” Marcos added.
He added the need to revive the esprit de corps between and among government employees to achieve goals that will uplift Filipino people’s lives.
“There was once a time when being in government was seen as a badge of honor, an opportunity to make meaningful changes in how things are done and improve services. We need to revive the esprit de corps that bonded us, enabled us to work together and accomplish goals for the common good. Let’s bring back the pride and dignity associated with being in government service,” Marcos added.
“I have spent a large chunk of my life in government service and I have seen how competent and well-meaning career personnel eventually choose to walk away and leave the service due to the seemingly thankless nature of the job,” Marcos said.
