Colored slips for prosecutors’ office visitors

CEBU, Philippines - To avoid “the appearance of loitering” by the public in the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor-Cebu Office, Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba issued a memorandum for the adoption of the OPP-Cebu Service Slip.

In her two-page memorandum, Petralba said the OPP-Cebu service slip was adopted in line with the Department of Justice’s memorandum and the Office of the President’s program.

“In the interest of public service, and in line with the Department’s Memo No. 9 and the Office of the President’s program to promote a more expedient and efficient service that is truly responsive to the people’s needs,” the memorandum No. 2013-02-A reads.

The service-slip system will be color-coded. Petralba said they will be posting clear instructions outside their office to avoid confusion regarding “where to go and whom to approach”.

Petralba said she observed that there are times people were waiting at the receiving area and did not know when they will be attended.

“No one should be made to wait unnecessarily without knowing where to go and whether they will be attended to soon. It must always be kept in mind that OPP-Cebu is serving the people who reside in the Province of Cebu, and who need to commute long hours to be able to get to the office,” the memorandum further read.

Meanwhile, people who have concerns and cases to follow up will not go directly to the prosecutor’s cubicles but to the officer-in-charge or the front-desk staff.

However, if the prosecutors concerned are on leave, out of the town or attending seminars, Petralba said the service slip shall be collected for future reference.

Petralba added the secretaries of the prosecutors must coordinate with the front desk staff or the other way around.

Color Coding

The service slips have three colors; blue, yellow and white.

The blue slip is for the main office for the follow-up of cases still pending for preliminary investigation.

The yellow slip is for the front desk/first row for those who want to follow up cases pending in court and would like to speak with the assigned prosecutors, for those whose appearance is required by the prosecutor by virtue of a subpoena and for those requesting for administration of oath like certificate of live birth, affidavit of loss and the like.

The white slip is for the records section for the existing forms for applications for OPP-Cebu clearance and requests for certified true copies of case records.

The memorandum took effect last January 28.   (FREEMAN)