CSC offices ordered to keep gift registry

In order to prevent corruption during the Christmas season, the Civil Service Commission wants all its offices nationwide to maintain a gift registry for officials and employees.

CSC chairwoman Karina David said that in anticipation of the Christmas season and the long-standing practice of gift-giving among Filipinos, the Commission is requiring all its offices nationwide to maintain a gift registry for their officials and employees.

She also encouraged other government agencies to follow the practice as the gift registry is an effective corruption prevention method.

The gift registry is intended to ensure transparency in transactions and to address instances when CSC officials and employees are given extravagant gifts or favors under the pretext of spreading the Yuletide cheer.

David said the gift registry will include information on the sender and giver, time and date of delivery and receipt, the estimated value of the gift and the kind or content of the gift. More importantly, the gift registry shall be open to the public for inspection subject to reasonable regulations as to the time and space of inspection.

The CSC again reminded all officials and employees of the policy against accepting and soliciting gifts or favors on any occasion, especially if these are from suppliers, contractors and clients.

The propriety of accepting the gift shall be determined by its value, relationship between the giver and the recipient and the motivation behind the act. The frequency of the giving or expectations of benefits will also be considered. - Ferliza C. Contratista