TOURISM, YOUTH CONCERNS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT

“KAWANI – BAYANI NG BAYAN: IANGAT ANG KABUHAYAN – TANGGALIN ANG KATIWALIAN” INSPIRATIONAL TALK - OPENING CEREMONY THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, 10 am, 9 December 2004, Malacañang Heroes Hall

Magandang umaga po.

Binabati ko ang lahat ng kalahok at nagtatag ng Annual Convention of Government Employees sa pagbubukas nito ngayon. Tayo po ay nagtitipon sa pagdiriwang ng Government Employees’ Week. Makahulugan ang linggong ito para sa mga kawani ng gubyerno dahil sumasabay din ito sa ikalimampu’t siyam (59th) na Anibersaryo ng Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA) at sa ikawalong (8th) Anibersaryo ng National Convention of Government Employees Working Council (NCGEWC).

Ikinararangal kong makapiling at bigyang pugay ang ating mga kawani ng gubyerno, lalo na sa kanilang dedikasyon, sipag at tiyaga sa mga nakaraang krisis at lalong lalo na sa panahon ng krisis na tulad ng nararanasan ngayon, matapos ang pagdaan ng mga bagyong Unding, Winnie at Yoyong. Ikinalulugod kong isipin na pinagpapatuloy nating mga lingkod bayan na iparamdam ang ating presensya lalong lalo na sa mga malalayo at liblib na lugar sa oras ng kanilang matinding pangangailangan.

Napakahalagang maparamdam sa mamamayan ang ating serbisyo at presensya sa lahat ng oras. Ang serbisyo sibil ay masusing instrumento sa pag-unlad at pamumuno ng kahit anong bansa. Ito ang institusyong nagpapatibay ng kumpiyansa sa pamamagitan ng mamamayan at ng pamahalaan. Sa gayon, mas lalong dapat natin itong pabutihin at patatagin.

We are paid with public taxes, thus society expects no less than hardwork, high ideal and honor from us. This means a government bereft of graft and corruption with a devoted professional civil service that delivers services to the people, maintains peace and order and administers the rule of law and justice to all. Kapag napagagaling at nabibigyang lunas ang mga taong nagdurusa sa panahon ng kalamidad, kapag nabibigyan ng de-kaledad na edukasyon ang ating kabataan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng textbooks sa mga paaralan at pagtanggap ng sahod ng guro sa takdang oras, kapag nasa oras din ang pagtutustos natin ng mga binhi at pataba sa mga magsasaka, kapag napapakita at napararamdam natin na may hustisya dahil naikukulong at naparurusahan ang mga kriminal at maysala, duon lamang magiging makabuluhan ang ating serbisyo.

Upang masiguro ang makabuluhang serbisyo, kailangan ang tuloy tuloy na pakikibaka at pagbabantay na hinihingi ng panahon. To enhance the capacity and capabilities of civil service, we must embrace and adapt the engineering and reengineering dynamism within the civil service, especially in facing economic and social challenges of the times. This administration is in a mood for positive change and improvement. While there is still a lot of ground to cover, progress has been made over the years to sustain this and keep good governance, transparency and accountability at the forefront of the national agenda.

Corruption is a major problem in the country. Efforts to attract foreign investments cannot prosper if we do not address this problem and raise the integrity and performance of government. To ensure transparency, accountability, participation and communication as a vehicle for good governance we must improve frontline delivery services specifically audit of systems and procedures to simplify and speed up agency processes, adhere to the started procurement reforms, and involve all sectors at all levels to scrutinize projects so that people, especially the poor, can actually see the benefits accruing to them from governance.

We have our very own culture in the civil service to be proud of, but this is not enough…our challenge is to build on a new culture of discipline and professionalism. As we continue to review our functions and outputs, we shall also continue to adhere to the highest tenets of professionalism, meritocracy, and integrity in the civil service. And this can be done by working closely with civil society and the private sector in the establishment of a strong foundation for moral value formation in the government bureaucracy to uphold the credibility of officials and employees who opt to work in government and attract more of the same individuals with the same level of dedication and service. The people would only be able to receive the "efficiency gains" from the government, if it is befitted with this culture.

The people are in dire need of opportunities, not hand -outs. Nais kong himukin ang ating mga kawani ng gubyerno upang magkaisa sa ilalim ng bagong pangakong mahalin ang pagganap ng ating mga tungkulin upang mapaglingkuran ang sambayanan sa lahat ng maaaring paraan. Upang maisakatuparan ang layuning ito, mahalaga ang kooperasyon at pagbabantay ng civil society, NGOs at professional organizations. Let us prove that we are a good partner to all of them. I thus wish to avail this opportunity to urge all civil servants to pledge to think of and establish themselves as 'People's Servant.'

Bago ako magtapos, Nais kong magbigay ng malugod na pasasalamat sa buong pamilyang serbisyo sibil na aking kinabibilangan at sa lahat ng mga taga-organisa para sa tagumpay ng araw na ito at sa pagbubuo ng iba’t ibang gawain sa buong bansa ukol dito.

Maraming salamat.

home   |   Speeches main page   |