Rama assures zero nepotism

CEBU, Philippines - Outgoing Vice Mayor Michael Rama assured that he will not hire any member of his family as employees of City hall once he takes over as mayor on June 30.

Rama made the assurance in response to the reminder of the Civil Service Commission to new public officials for them to strictly observe the rules of nepotism.

The Local Government Code explicitly prohibits the appointment of family members within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity with the appointing or recommending authority.

Section 49, Article X of Presidential Decree No. 807 also provides that “all appointments in the national, provincial, city and municipal governments or in any branch or instrumentality, including government-owned or controlled corporations, made in favor of a relative of the appointing or recommending authority, or of the persons exercising immediate supervision over him, are hereby prohibited.”

However, exemptions are made to persons employed in a confidential capacity, teachers, physicians and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines provided that in each particular instance full report of such appointment shall be made to the Commission.

CSC said nepotism “is a form of corruption that weakens the morale and productivity in the public sector, promotes patronage politics and breeds public distrust on government.”

Rama said he will not bend the law even if his relative or a family member is very qualified for a post.

“I believe that there is someone other than my relative who is qualified,” he said.

Rama said he has never appointed any relative in his 18 years in government service for the sake of providing jobs or for any other reason.

“I assure that there will be no problem in the executive. In the legislative, we can only remind them but they should be honorable enough to assess,” Rama said. (FREEMAN NEWS)