CSC taps NGO to fight red tape

MANILA, Philippines - The Civil Service Commission (CSC), pushing for the enlistment of more volunteers in the fight against red tape, has joined hands with a watchdog group to monitor the government’s frontline services.

Hoping to encourage more citizens to join the movement, the CSC announced that it has partnered with Bantay.ph, a non-government organization that aims to reduce corruption in the country through educational campaigns, volunteer programs and a strong online presence.

The CSC said the memorandum of agreement with Bantay empowers the organization’s volunteers to visit government agencies and offices, conduct anti-red tape (ARTA) monitoring, and document these visits through photos and videos.

Bantay volunteers consist of individuals from different organizations, including the youth particularly university students.

The CSC said non-volunteers may also report ARTA-related complaints or commendations directly to CSC’s Contact Center ng Bayan via hotline (1-6565), SMS (0908-8816565), or email portal (www.contactcenterngbayan.gov.ph).

As the country’s lead implementer of ARTA, the CSC spearheads various programs and initiatives to stop red tape in government frontline transactions.