The 8 norms of conduct of public officials and employees (Part 2)

In my previous column, I shared the first four norms of conduct that government officials and employees ought to live by in the exercise of public service.

The four other values that they must observe in the fulfillment of their duties in the government are discussed in the succeeding paragraphs.

The fifth norm is responsiveness to the public, which means that at all times, they must extend prompt, courteous and adequate service to the public. This is why the government has come up with the Anti-Red Tape Act or the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007 (Republic Act 9485), which aims to promote ease in doing business with government agencies and streamline processes, particularly those that are considered frontline services.

Next is nationalism and patriotism. Public officials and employees must remain loyal to the country and the Filipino people, and protect the Philippine sovereignty against foreign intrusion. If and whenever possible, advocate the use of our own languages, and engage in programs and projects that support the history and culture of the nation.

The seventh norm is the commitment to democracy. This means that government officials must always uphold the constitution and democracy in his/her exercise of public service. They must always maintain the principle of public accountability and manifest by deeds the supremacy of civilian authority over the military.

Lastly, and I think one of the most important norms is simple living. This means that their lifestyle should be modest and appropriate to their positions and income. All public servants, including elected and appointed officials must veer away from the extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.

With this sharing, I am hoping that those who read my columns will use these as bases in choosing the right leaders in the forthcoming elections. As citizens of this democratic nation, we must exercise our right to suffrage and choose wisely to ensure that we will be governed by competent, accountable and egalitarian officials.