Local execs urged to take seminars on anti-graft

MANILA, Philippines - Local officials should take annual refresher seminars on the anti-graft law and the code of conduct for public servants, Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said yesterday.

Gatchalian made the call as local government officials again topped the list of government institutions with the most number of complaints filed in the Office of the Ombudsman against one of their officials or employees for 2013.

“Local government units (LGUs) can opt to hold seminars every year to empower their officials and employees against corrupt and unethical practices,” he said.

Gatchalian is vice chairman of the House committees on Metro Manila development, and housing and urban development.

He said the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713) are laws that can be included in review seminars.

LGUs posted 2,104 cases filed last year, topping the list for the third consecutive year. This, however, was lower than the 2,669 cases and 3,852 cases recorded against LGUs in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

“LGUs should strive to clean their ranks. Let us hope that by doing these refresher courses, LGUs will disappear from the top of the list by next year,” Gatchalian said.

“There should be cooperation among LGUs to share their best practices in fighting corruption. It will take more than one unit to clear the LGUs’ reputation,” he said.

Gatchalian said the national government should also help LGUs be corruption-free.

“The national government should take a proactive stance in educating local government officials to eliminate errors and corruption. Agencies like the Commission on Audit, the Departments of the Interior and Local Government, Finance and Budget and Management can help,” he said.