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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City Bae how
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session REOSTR Arto

3156

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representat
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

Explanatory Note

Section 5 of Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the "Code of Conduct and Ethical
Standards for Public Officials and Employees", enjoins all public servants to respond or act
promptly on letters, telegrams or other means of communication sent by the public.

The law gives such officials a period of fifteen (15) working days within which to respond or
take action on the request. However, not a few government officials are remiss in this obligation
whether due to oversight or deliberate failure. In most instances, it takes an unreasonably long
time for a response to come along.

The failure to respond may not necessarily be a conscious and deliberate act to ignore a letter-
request because some officials are really mired in work. Yet the wisdom of the law is beyond
cavil. Public office is a public trust, and all government officials and employees must at all times
be accountable to the people. Certainly, a citizen however ordinary deserves nothing less than
public service discharged with utmost responsibility, integrity and efficiency.

Itis within this context that this measure is being proposed. This bill provides stiffer penalties for
the failure of public officials to respond or act on letters and other communications from the
public if only to put more teeth to the law.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is strongly recommended.

HONARYE£. ALEJANO

HOUSE" REPRESENTATIVES


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3156

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR STIFFER PENALTIES AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND
EMPLOYEES WHO REFUSE OR NEGLECT TO ACT PROMPTLY ON THE
PUBLIC'S PERSONAL TRANSACTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS AS REQUIRED
UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO, 6713, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CODE OF
CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND
EMPLOYEES"

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Prompt Action on Letters and Requests. - All public officials and
employees shall, as a great rule, respond to letters, telegrams, or other means of communication
sent by the public within fifteen (15) working days from receipt thereof, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 5 of Republic Act. No. 6713, otherwise known as the "Code of Conduct
and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees". The reply must contain the action

taken on the request.

SEC. 2. Exceptions. - In cases where the subject matter of the written requests, petitions
or motions sent by means of letters, telegrams or the like, is non-routine or the issues involved
are not simple or ordinary or where the action desired cannot be acted upon in the ordinary
course of business of the department or agency concerned, action on such cases shall be made in
accordance with the procedures prescribed under Rule VI, Section 3 of the Implementing Rules

of R.A, 6713 promulgated by the Civil Service Commission.

SEC. 3. Other Duties. - All public officials and employees are likewise under obligation

to see to it that all official papers and documents are processed and completed within a


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reasonable time from the preparation thereof and that public documents are made accessible to
and readily available for inspection by the public within reasonable working hours. In the
discharge of the abovementioned duties and responsibilities, public officials and employees
shall be guided by the procedures prescribed under Rule VI, Section 4 to 7 of the Implementing

Rules of R.A. 6713 referred to in the preceding section.

SEC. 4. Penalties. - Any public official or employee, regardless of whether or not he
holds office or employment in a casual, temporary, hold-over, permanent or regular capacity,
who commits any violation of this Act shall, after due notice and hearing by the appropriate
body or agency, be punished with a fine of not less than the equivalent of three (3) months
salary but not exceeding the equivalent of six (6) months salary or suspension for a period of
not less than six (6) months nut not exceeding one (1) year, or removal from office, depending
upon the gravity of the offense and taking into consideration other aggravating factors, such as

recidivism on the part of the respondent officials or employee.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - The provisions of Section 11 of R.A. 6713, other laws,
decrees, orders, rules or regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent herewith, are repealed or

modified accordingly.

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. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in

the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,