Turn on your charm, GMA urges public servants

President Arroyo ordered yesterday front-line government agencies — especially those with bad reputations in dealing with the public — to turn on their charms to improve their public image and attract more businesses.

Mrs. Arroyo made the directive during the Export Development Council meeting at Malacañang where she also ordered that all front-line government agencies should place a huge billboard at the entrances of their offices on step-by-step procedures to be undertaken by their clients.

"The President asked front-line government agencies to start a ‘charm school’ or a ‘finishing school’ to train those personnel who are subject of various complaints because of their uncouth behavior so they can become better customer-oriented," Malacañang said in a statement.

The meeting was aimed at finding ways to reduce red tape, bottlenecks, and transaction costs in government requirements to help exporters immediately comply with orders and make it easier for foreign investors to transact business in the country.

Among those who attended the meeting were Vice President Noli de Castro, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri, Deputy National Security Adviser Virtus Gil, and Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales.

Favila, designated by Mrs. Arroyo yesterday as chairman of the Anti-Red Tape Task Force, said the directive to improve the attitude of government employees does not only cover those directly dealing with people but also those "in the back offices."

"Her idea is that maybe some front-line offices, like the airports, may hire some experts to train our personnel on how to properly deal with clients and the public," Favila said.

In June, Mrs. Arroyo was told by Spanish trade officials that red tape was one of the main complaints of foreign businessmen in the Philippines.

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said government employees in front-line agencies should not only be efficient but courteous as well.

"In general, our government personnel are caring and responsive, maybe we just need some further enhancement and a little training," he said.

Favila said he would meet with Gil, who was earlier designated as head of a task force to reengineer government procedures, to avoid overlapping of functions. Other members of the Anti-Red Tape Task Force are Presidential Management Staff head Arthur Yap, Commission on Information and Communications Technology head Ramon Sales, and the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

At the meeting, Mrs. Arroyo also approved the holding of the National Competitiveness Summit in Malacañang on Sept. 29 that will tackle five main issues: reducing red tape and transaction costs in government; infrastructure; electricity; technology and wage.

She also asked local governments to shorten their own procedures, like in securing permits.

At the same time, Mrs. Arroyo has launched a program to promote punctuality and civility among Filipinos, saying these values would eventually help the Philippines’ economic recovery in the long run.

"Punctuality and civility are two indispensable virtues that our citizenry must possess if we are to aspire for a peaceful, prosperous and united society," read Proclamation No. 1117 issued by Mrs. Arroyo.

"There is a need for a new breed of Filipino who makes the most of his time and respects the equal rights of their fellowmen to their time and freedom, thus ensuring a responsible citizenry," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo ordered all government offices and public schools to enforce appropriate programs to promote punctuality and civility.

She cited the Organized Response for the Advancement of Society Inc. (ORAS), a non-government, non-profit and non-stock organization composed of leaders from all sectors of society which had continually effectively promoted a national campaign for the transformation of the habit of the people in respect to the value of time and respect for the rights of others. — With Aurea Calica