AS a manifestation of commitment to rid the government of corruption, the Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), officially launched the DOTr Anti-Corruption Committee (DOTr-ACC) in a virtual ceremony Thursday, November 25, 2021.

DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Reinier Paul Yebra said the creation of the committee is pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the PACC for the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Coordinating Council under the Project Kasangga: Aksyon Laban sa Korapsyon.

The DOTr-ACC, created on August 3, 2021 through Special Order 2021-112, signed by Secretary Art Tugade, was directed to formulate policies to foster the Department’s fight against corruption.

The DOTr-ACC is tasked to monitor and validate corruption-related cases as well as implement and promote anti-corruption programs in the agency.

On behalf of DOTr Secretary Art Tugade, DOTr Undersecretary for Administrative Service Artemio Tuazon, Jr. said the occasion paves way for the promotion of anti-corruption measures within the agency. He emphasized Secretary Tugade’s stern implementation of anti-corruption measures within the DOTr’s ranks.

“Maski po simoy lang ng korapsyon sa ating Kagawaran at sa ating mga ahensyang kalakip dito ay hindi po niya pinalulusot. Not even tolerance. This clearly highlights Secretary Art Tugade’s desire for continued and long-lasting change,” Usec. Tuazon said.

Under Secretary Tugade’s leadership, the DOTr has been enforcing anti-corruption measures, such as a “one-strike” policy against corruption, the livestreaming of bidding and procurement processes, a “no noon-break” policy, no “kamag-anak” system, no gift policy, and the digitization or the shifting to an online processing of applications for licenses, franchises, and other related services, Usec. Yebra added.

“Ngayong araw na ito nais po naming iparating na buong-buo ang suporta ng DOTr, kasama ang sectoral agencies at pati mga private stakeholder sa anumang pagsisikap ng gobyerno laban sa katiwalian. Sama-sama, tayo po ay magsisikap na magbigay ng malinis at mahusay na serbisyo para sa mga Pilipino,” Usec. Yebra said.

Meanwhile, coinciding with the launching of the DOTr ACC is the simultaneous signing of the Manifesto and Declaration of Oath of Honesty by officials and employees of the DOTr and its 18 attached agencies.

More than a thousand personnel of the DOTr and its four sectors – Aviation, Railways, Road Transport, and Maritime – sealed their commitment through the nationwide signing and oath-taking before PACC Commissioner Atty. Yvette Contacto.

To recall, a similar ceremony was spearheaded by the PACC on 28 April 2021 for the launching of the Project Kasangga, while DOTr personnel first signed the pledge of commitment and took their oaths to uphold ethical practice and good governance on 14 December 2016.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), as service-oriented agencies directly dealing with stakeholders, will hold a similar event in the coming days.

In line with the anti-corruption drive, the public may call the DOTR Anti-Corruption Hotline 8790-8300 local 723, send an email to [email protected] for corruption-related complaints, and access the DOTr website and social media accounts in Facebook and Twitter for the public information campaigns.