Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Monday, Jan. 5, emphasized that public servants are paid by the people, and with that, they must serve above and beyond the call of their duties.

“Bilang mga pinapasahod ng taong bayan, dapat above and beyond the call of duty ang lagi po nating iniisip, ‘yun po ang lagi nating ginagawa (As public servants paid by the people, we should always think beyond the call of duty. That is what we consistently strive to do),” he said. 

Sotto made the statement during the first flag raising ceremony of 2026, where he thanked employees and offices of both the local and national government who continued to render service despite the holiday season for Christmas and New Year.

He particularly thanked those whom he referred to as “Team However.” These include personnel, departments, and offices required to report for duty even during holidays or work suspensions due to storms, disasters, or other emergencies.

Sotto mentioned personnel who reported for work to process death registrations and issue death certificates, including staff from the City Civil Registry Department, City Health Department, and City Treasurer’s Office. 

The mayor noted that even without being instructed to report for duty, these offices voluntarily opened, especially after prolonged suspensions caused by bad weather or extended holidays. He said this initiative reflects genuine concern for the public, as death registration and certification are required for burial arrangements, which helps grieving families.

He stressed that delays in processing such documents can be especially difficult for grieving families, particularly when offices have not been operational for several days.

“Ganiyan po tayo dapat sa ating lokal na pamahalaan. Gaya ng ating panunumpa (bilang lingkod bayan), hindi tayo dapat nag-aantay ng utos. Hindi tayo dapat nag-aantay ng kung ano ang required lang sa atin, kung hindi, kailangan lagi po tayong above and beyond the call of duty (This is how our local government should be. In line with our oath as public servants, we should not wait for orders. We should not limit ourselves to what is merely required of us. Instead, we must always go above and beyond the call of duty),” he said. 

He also reminded public servants to act voluntarily when they see something they can do for the people they serve, without waiting to be ordered or told.