The important features of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials

and Employees, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 6713, are found under Sections 4, 5, 7,
and 8. Under Section 4, it is provided that every public official and employee shall observe
commitment to public interest, professionalism, justness and sincerity, political neutrality,
responsiveness to the public, nationalism and patriotism, simple living. Under Sections 5, 7, and
8, it states the duties and obligations of public officials and employees. Under Section 5, it
enumerates the duties of the public officials and employees which are to act promptly on letters
and requests, to submit annual performance reports, to process documents and papers
expeditiously, to act immediately on the publics personal transactions, and to make documents
accessible to the public. Under Section 7, it provides prohibited acts and transactions of the
public officials and employees which consist of financial and material interest, outside
employment and other activities related thereto, disclosure and/or misuse of confidential
information, and solicitation or acceptance of gifts. Lastly, Section 8 provides that public
officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of,
and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business
interests including those of their spouses and children, and even relatives.
The important features of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, otherwise known as Republic
Act No. 9485, are found in Sections 5 and 10. Under Section 5, it that all offices and agencies
which provide frontline services are hereby mandated to regularly undertake time and motion
studies, undergo evaluation and improvement of their transaction systems and procedures and reengineer the same if deemed necessary to reduce bureaucratic red tape and processing time. And
Under Section 10, it provides that all offices and agencies providing frontline services shall be
subjected to a Report Card Survey to be initiated by the Civil Service Commission, in
coordination with; the Development Academy of the Philippines, which shall be used to obtain
feedback on how provisions in the Citizen's Charter are being followed and how the agency is
performing.
Regarding Republic Act No. 6713, I believe that it is a very good law. It really aims to
promote public service and is a constant reminder to the public officials and employees that they
are in that position not just for their own good, but to help the Philippines be a better country by
providing proper server to the public. Despite my opinion that this is a very good law, there are
still public officials and employees who violate this law and not get punished because they are
not caught. Specifically, public officials often violate Section 4(h), which provides that Public
officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions
and income. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any
form. As we often see today, public officials and employees violate this provision and the public
generally views the government as corrupt and that being a public official or employee is money
making business. Like in the case of former Senator Janet Lim-Napoles, she was not living a
simple life and was even convicted of plunder for being the mastermind of the pork barrel fund
scam. Though corruption has been lessened in our present government, there are still a lot of
areas to work on. Public officials and employees should strictly follow the provisions of this law
because they are public servants and should be a role model to the public, instead of using the
publics money for their own motives.

Regarding Republic Act No. 9485, I also believe that this is a very good law. It aims to abolish
the corruption in the government, or at least lessen it and punish those who violate this law.
Under Section 10, it provides that All offices and agencies providing frontline services shall be
subjected to a Report Card Survey to be initiated by the Civil Service Commission, in
coordination with; the Development Academy of the Philippines, which shall be used to obtain
feedback on how provisions in the Citizen's Charter are being followed and how the agency is
performing. They are being subjected to report card surveys because it is used to obtain
information and/or estimates of hidden costs incurred by clients to access frontline services. It is
not unknown that there are a lot of under-the-table transactions happening in our government;
even private individuals bribe public officials and employees just to speed the process of getting
what they want. I know this for a fact because I have witnessed such circumstance in the Land
Transportation Office just so people can get their drivers license without taking the required
tests/exams. We are also aware that the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs
are the one of the most corrupt agency of the government.
In my conclusion, both Republic Act No. 6713 and Republic Act No. 9485 are good laws
because they are aimed to eliminate corruption in the government. As a concerned citizen, Id
like to commend the congress for enacting these laws because I have despised politicians for a
long time because of corruption. Even though these are good laws that aim to get rid of the
corruption happening in the government, it lacks enforcement, as many of public officials and
public employees get away of violating these laws. I have to say that it is partly the fault of the
public in general for voting public officials who does not deserve to be in the public office. The
public should vote more wisely and not be bought just because they are given money to vote for
them. Instead of receiving money to cast our vote for them, we should report it. Sadly, people in
general are unaware to the consequences in voting for those officials who paid them. I just hope
that during the next election, people will choose wisely and not be deceived by corrupt people.