by ES Subong

Iloilo City (31 August) -- As the Philippine Civil Service celebrates its 108th anniversary, government employees are urged to cope with as well as overcome the constraints and difficulties that hinder efficient public service.

Civil Service Commission (CSC) 6 Regional Director Rodolfo Encajonado said this year's celebration seeks to highlight the significant role played by civil servants in nation-building through their collective efforts to be responsive to the needs of the people.

This is reflected in the theme: "Republic Service - Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Panahon ng Paghamon."

Encajonado said it is a great privilege to be a government employee at this time when all the rest are in dire need of work.

He said public service providers such as government employees must serve above personal interest, work an extra mile, and abide by the laws and conduct for civil servants over and above even, some political interventions.

"Put your selves in the shoes of those you serve so that you will feel the urgency of responding to them, as you, at one time or another, are also clients of other agencies," Encajonado said.

Encajonado also believe that despite the common perception that government employees fall short of their duties, there are so many individuals in government who have been doing their job well and merit recognition from the CSC.

Proof of this, he said, is that many government agencies previously audited in their performance especially on service delivery and frontline services, have remarkably improved.

For the performance audit period, out of 116 frontline agencies evaluated, eight got Excellent rating, 49 Very Satisfactory, 47 Satisfactory and 12 needed improvement.

Encajonado said the relative success of their Public Service Delivery Audit (PASADA) is to a large extent attributed to the greater awareness on the part of the client on their rights and privileges as they transact with government agencies.

Moreover, before there were only four Dangal ng Bayan Awardees in the region, now there are nine, wherein, one semi-finalist, in the person of Sr. Insp. Gilbert T. Golero of Antique-PNP will be recognized this September 22 awarding rites.

The CSC chief said he is encouraging non-government organizations and the private sector, to also monitor and nominate best performing local officials and employees, to motivate more committed and good public servants.