The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will provide information of business names of employees and officials under lifestyle checks to help efforts against corruption in government.
DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said at the Project Kasangga: Tokhang Laban sa Korapsyon Anti-Corruption Manifesto Signing on the Pledge of Cooperation and Oath of Honesty by DTI officials and employees that providing the information of business names of government workers under investigation b as its initial contribution in its partnership with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).
As a first step, Lopez said DTI is helping the PACC by providing information of business names of officials and employees under investigation for graft and corruption.
The Project Kasangga Anti- Corruption Manifesto is an initiative of the PACC led by Commissioner Yvette C. Contacto and Chairman Greco B. Belgica.
“We have already replied to PACC’s first request and will continuously cooperate on matters within the Department’s jurisdiction to ensure public accountability and governance,” Lopez said.
“The DTI further commits to provide information/documents of the government officials and/or employees being investigated.”
As partner of PACC and all government agencies to guarantee a corruption-free country, Lopez emphasized that one of DTI’s values is Integrity. He cited its good governance manifesto posted on its walls, “We do not tolerate corruption in any form, at any level. We uphold the public's interest over our own. We are vanguards of the people's trust, and stewards of government resources. We are steadfast and undivided in being honest, fair, and impartial.”
DTI takes seriously by providing immediate response to the referrals of the Civil Service Commission’s Contact Center ng Bayan (CCB) to support anti-red tape measures.
Lopez admitted that DTI is not spared from corruption incidents, stating that these are under investigation and pursued by an independent third party where the office of the secretary is not even a member.
The DTI Secretary, who came from the private business sector before joining the government, reminded DTI officials and employees that “government is not the place to enrich oneself” because it is where people serve the country. To those who aim to become rich, Lopez advised them to join the private business sector instead.
At DTI, he said, they ensure speedy resolution of complaints sent through the Office of the President’s 8888 Hotline. For this year, DTI registered a 100 percent resolution of complaints in January and February, and 95.83 percent and 94.44 percent resolution rate for March and April, respectively.
As chairman of the Anti Red Tape Authority, Lopez said that DTI commits to e-governance and digitalization/ automation of its different processes to limit face-to-face interaction, and to further speed up our services.
Internally, DTI has the Internal Audit Service (IAS) to evaluate the outcome, output, process, and input to determine if our operations, programs and projects are effective, efficient, ethical, and economical.
More importantly, he said, DTI maintains its transparency and ensure that its procurement and financial processes abide in accordance with applicable government laws and regulations.
“Having a transparent, corrupt-free government agency that is responsive to the public’s needs is an integral part of our efforts to build back better in the wake of COVID-19,” said Lopez.