In a bid to get rid of bureaucratic red tape activities, President Rodrigo Duterte has issued marching orders to all government agencies to expedite their response to public requests and concerns.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has signed on Friday, May 4, Memorandum Circular 44 which reiterates an order stated in Section 5a of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which mandates government officials and employees to respond to public inquiries and concerns within 15 working days starting from receipt.
All government agencies are covered by the circular, including government-owned and controlled corporations.
On his first day as president, Duterte directed his Cabinet to hasten government transactions and remove “redundant” requirements of government agencies.
“I direct all department secretaries and the heads of agencies to reduce requirements and the processing time of all applications from the submission to release,” he said in a speech in 2016.
