PUBLIC SERVICE IS A PUBLIC TRUST
Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest – The Constitution, Article XI, Section 1.
It is the responsibility of every citizen, especially government workers, to be aware of the laws that may apply to their daily lives. Given the state of Public Health Emergency, there is no excuse to claim ignorance of the law. Government Employees should lead in the observance of minimum health protocols.
Majority of the people nowadays are sick and tired of the protocols that are in place. Some say that wearing face shields are hard to manage especially when riding a motorcycle. Mask and Face shields are overtaking some essential goods as “passports” in different establishments or even when you go outside your residence. Therefore authorities should always check that all necessary precautions are in place.
Given these facts, LGU employees and police officers should be an example to the public in following the law. For instance, they should refrain from attending parties not just avoid posting pictures on social media. Leaders should discipline and have a tough stance on violators.
Section 4 c of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees states that “They shall at all times respect the rights of others, and shall refrain from doing acts contrary to law, good morals, good customs, public policy, public order, public safety, and public interest.”
Keeping up with the protocols and reviving the economy is among the toughest job in the history of leadership but we should keep in mind that the welfare of the people is the supreme law. An economy cannot flourish if the people are sick and the health care system is overwhelmed or on the verge of collapse.
For goodness sake lets us not be hypocrites. We keep on saying that we idolize the current President but we are doing things contrary to law. We keep on criticizing others without checking our own actions. We distaste orders and shun protocols. Come on – man up!
The government does not require us to know every single law. But the government, however, does believe in us following general notions of right or wrong. Lawyers do not know all the laws of the land, how much more an ordinary citizen, but common sense should be applied coupled with good manners and respect.
Government employees should serve the people and empower them so that they can contribute to make their town a safe place. We should live to serve the people. We can heal as ONE after all.