The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has vowed to continue its fight against corruption in its agencies as it officially launched on Thursday, Nov. 25, its own Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC).
The DOTr said it has partnered with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) for the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Coordinating Council under the government's "Project Kasangga: Aksyon Laban sa Korapsyon."
The DOTr ACC, created last Aug. 3 through Special Order 2021-112 signed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, was directed to formulate policies to foster the Department’s fight against corruption.
The newly formed committee was also tasked to monitor and validate corruption-related cases as well as implement and promote anti-corruption programs in the agency.
Tugade said this development will pave the way for the promotion of anti-corruption measures within the DOTr and its attach agencies, as well as its officials.
The DOTr has been enforcing various anti-corruption measures such as a "one-strike” policy against corruption, the livestreaming of bidding and procurement processes, a "no noon-break" policy, no “kamag-anak” system, no gift policy, and the digitization or the shifting to an online processing of applications for licenses, franchises, and other related services.
In time with the launching of the DOTr ACC is the simultaneous signing of the Manifesto and Declaration of Oath of Honesty by officials and employees of the DOTr and its 18 attached agencies.
More than a thousand personnel of the DOTr and its four sectors – Aviation, Railways, Road Transport, and Maritime – sealed their commitment through the nationwide signing and oath-taking before PACC Commissioner Atty. Yvette Contacto.
A similar ceremony was also spearheaded by the PACC last April 28 for the launching of Project Kasangga, while DOTr personnel first signed the pledge of commitment and took their oaths to uphold ethical practice and good governance in December 2016.
The DOTr urged the public to report any corruption-related complaints to its Anti-Corruption Hotline 8790-8300 local 723, email at [email protected], and to the agency's website and social media account.