CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 10 (Northern Mindanao) has vowed to punish employees disrespecting people asking for assistance.
The DSWD-10 made the statement in response to DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo’s warning against employees from the department showing lack of courtesy to its clientele.
Roshiel Galia, DSWD-10 OIC information officer, said the level of the punishment would depend on the gravity of the offense based on the progressive disciplining and Revised Rules and Regulations on Administrative Cases in Civil Service (RACCS).
She explained that the simple discourtesy will be punishable by reprimand for the first offense; suspension of one to 30 days for the second offense; and dismissal from the service for the third offense.
Less grave offenses are punishable by one month and one day to six months suspension for the first offense and dismissal from the service for the second offense.
For employees with grave offenses, they are punishable by six months and one day to one year suspension for the first offense and dismissal from the service for the second offense.
Galia said the gravity of offense will be determined through an investigation conducted by the office.
The DSWD information officer stressed that DSWD-10 always conducts orientation for newly hired personnel to inflect the code of conduct of a public official.
“This includes good manners, discipline, and hospitality. Every Monday convocation, the reminders have always been reiterated through the ‘Character of the Week’ as a reminder to employees to be a good host and shelter to those in greater need,” Galia said.
From 2021 up to the present, Galia said the DSWD-10 has not, so far, received a complaint against employees with disrespecting behavior toward their clients.
She reminded the public that DSWD-10 has a Public Assistance Clients Desk (PACD) where people, asking for assistance who experience disrespecting behavior from personnel, can raise their complaint.
The office also has a service feedback form where people can send their complaint by dropping it to suggestion boxes or sending to email address [email protected].
Galia assured that the office includes the complaints as one of their priorities to ensure their mandate as public servants which is to serve and help the people.