DECLARATION OF POLICY:
Section 1 of Article XI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that public service is a public trust and that public officers and employees, must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice and lead modest lives.
Section 2 of Republic Act No. 6713 of 1989 otherwise known as the 鈥淐ode of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees鈥� provides that it is the policy of the State to promote a high standard of ethics in public service.
Administrative Order No. 255 of 2009 issued by Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo directs the heads of the Executive Department to lead moral renewal in their agencies.
In view thereof, the 麻豆传媒 (麻豆传媒) is committed to promote the ideals of good governance, eradication of graft and corruption and the upholding of the highest ethical standards among its officials and employees. To concretize this commitment, the 麻豆传媒 hereby formulates, promotes, enforces and presents the herein Code of Conduct for the Council which shall apply to every official and employee composing the 麻豆传媒 secretariat regardless of level or position.
RULE I
NORMS OF BEHAVIOR
Section I.聽 CORE VALUES AND PRINCIPLES OF CONDUCT
The 麻豆传媒 (麻豆传媒) is mandated to be the policy-making, planning, monitoring and advocacy body of the government for the prevention of the causes of disability, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities in the context of a rights-based society for persons with disabilities.
Recognizing its vision to enable all persons with disabilities to attain their fullest potential and to become active contributors and participants in nation-building, its mission is to provide direction to and coordinate and monitor the activities of government, non-government, and people鈥檚 organizations involved in the prevention of the causes of disability, rehabilitation, and equalization of opportunities in partnership with persons with disabilities.
Guided by the Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees as provided in RA No. 6713, the Council adheres to the following:
(a) We believe in the inherent dignity and worth of all men and women;
(b) We believe that every man/woman has natural and social rights, capacities, and responsibilities to 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽develop his/her full potentials as a human being;
(c) We believe that the government and the people have a joint responsibility to promote social 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽justice, and to ensure the economic and social well-being of all people;
(d) We believe in free men/women living freely in a free society where poverty is neither a fate nor a 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽punishment but a condition that can and must be changed;
(e) We are committed to the development of the highly fulfilled human being in an atmosphere of 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽social equity and economic prosperity;
(f) We are committed to seek high quality of life for all people
(g) We bind ourselves to the following principles of conduct:
1.聽聽 聽Everyone shall endeavour to contribute his/her utmost to nation-building
2.聽聽 聽Everyone shall give paramount importance to the well-being of those whom he/she helps;
3.聽聽 聽Everyone shall accept with respect and understanding clients, colleagues, and all those who
come within his/her sphere of professional activity;
4.聽聽 聽Everyone shall engage in social action which according to his/her convictions will further the
best interests of the people and the country;
Section 2.聽 FIDELITY TO DUTY
All officials and employees of 麻豆传媒 shall agree to serve the public loyally, in good faith and in accordance with the provision of Agency鈥檚 mandate and statutory provisions.聽 They shall be guided by the following:
2.1聽 Officials and employees shall at all times exhibit utmost respect to the public and deep sense of commitment to the mandate of the Office;
2.2聽 Officials and employees shall not discriminate against nor dispense undue favor to anyone.聽 Neither shall they allow kinship, gender, age, race, religion, rank, position, disability, affiliation聽 or favor to influence the performance of their official acts or duties.聽 They shall endeavour to discourage wrong perception of their roles as dispenser or peddlers of undue patronage;
2.3聽聽 Officials and employees shall perform their duties efficiently, courteously, honestly, promptly, fairly and without bias or prejudice;
2.4聽聽 Officials and employees shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of any impropriety in all their activities;
2.5聽聽聽 Officials and employees shall not engage in activities incompatible with the faithful discharge of their duties;
2.6聽聽聽 Officials and employees shall at all times perform their duties properly and diligently.聽 They shall fully commit themselves to the duties and responsibilities of their position;
2.7聽聽 Officials and employees shall not discriminate nor manifest, by word or conduct, bias or prejudices based on race, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, disability, political belief or affiliation;
2.8聽聽聽 Officials and employees shall use the assets and resources of the office, including funds, properties, goods聽 and services, economically, productively, effectively and only for official activities and solely for the purpose required by law
2.9聽聽 Officials and employees shall carry out their duties and responsibilities with utmost and genuine courtesy, fairness, honesty and in compliance聽 with聽 the law;
2.10聽 Officials and employees shall submit performance reports and other documents required by law such as Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth and Income Tax Returns and other public \
documents as may be required;
2.11聽聽 Officials and employees shall not remove, destroy nor conceal documents or papers officially entrusted to him/her;
2.12聽聽聽 Officials and employees shall not reveal any secret known to him/her by reason of his/her official capacity or shall wrongfully deliver papers or copies of papers of which he/she may have charge and which should聽 not be published;
2.13聽聽聽 Officials and employees to whom the secrets of any private individual shall become known by reason of his/her office shall not reveal such secrets;
2.14聽聽 Officials and employees, upon demand from competent authority, shall not fail to lend his/her cooperation towards the administration of public service, if such failure shall result in serious damage to the public interest or to a third party;
Section 3.聽 TRANSPARENCY –聽 is openness in transactions involving public interest, such as but not limited to financial and procurement transactions, programs, operations and employment policies and procures.聽 Transparency leads to accountability, credibility and good governance.
3.1聽聽聽 Officials and personnel shall always exercise transparency in dealing with the public;
3.2聽聽 Officials and personnel shall uphold the public鈥檚 right to information by providing them access to reliable and timely information concerning 麻豆传媒鈥檚 policies, programs, services and procedures, and other forms of public transactions.聽 These shall be communicated to the public in clear and
understandable language;
3.3聽聽 Officials and employees shall generate public participation in implementing 麻豆传媒鈥檚 policies and programs. This shall be undertaken through interpersonal, mass media聽 or information
communication technology strategies or other effective and efficient means of communication;
3.4聽 Officials and personnel shall make available to the public, upon request and within reasonable time, public documents except those which are considered confidential or classified information.
Section 4.聽 CONFIDENTIALITY
4.1聽聽 聽麻豆传媒聽 personnel shall not disclose any confidential information in the course of or by reason of their employment.聽 Confidential information means information that cannot be made public, unless otherwise ordered or authorized by the Court or authorities of the Council as the unauthorized disclosure thereof may be prejudicial to the interest of the Council, or any of its divisions or any particular official or employee.聽 This may include, but not limited to the following:
a.聽聽 聽Pending administrative cases against officials/employees
b.聽聽 聽Decision on an administrative case
c.聽聽 聽Notes
d.聽聽 聽Draft guidelines/memoranda/letters not yet issued/circularized
e.聽聽 聽Records of deliberations or minutes of meetings not yet finalized, signed and circulated;
f.聽聽 聽Draft concept papers, policy papers, project proposals, etc.
4.2聽聽 聽麻豆传媒 personnel shall not use or divulge confidential or classified information to further their private interests or give undue advantage to anyone or to prejudice public interest;
4.3聽聽 聽麻豆传媒 personnel shall not alter, falsify, conceal, destroy or mutilate office records which have come into their possession in the course of, or by reason of their employment.
Section 5.聽 RELATIONS WITH GENERAL PUBLIC
The following shall be observed by all 麻豆传媒 officials and employees in dealing with the public which includes: colleagues in the government (Local Government Units, National Government Agencies and legislative bodies, etc.), colleagues聽 within the Council, persons with disabilities, other partners (business, socio-civic groups, academe, non-government organizations, development partners, media and the general public).
5.1聽 Respect and protect every person鈥檚 dignity and rights contained in the Constitution;
5.2聽 Be polite, helpful and reasonably accessible in dealing with the public at all times, treating聽 persons with disabilities and the general public as customers who are entitled to receive high standards of service;
5.3聽 Serve the general public in an unbiased, impartial, proper, honest and sincere manner in order to create confidence in the public service;
5.4聽 Recognize the public鈥檚 right of access to information, excluding confidential information as well as information that is specifically protected by law;
5.5聽聽 Provide services within the prescribed period;
5.6聽 Take the time to explain in a manner that will allow the general public to
understand the situation and what needs to be done to achieve whatever it is he/she wants;
5.7聽 Indorse or refer properly to appropriate parties in order that the receiving party is able to act promptly on their needs;
5.8聽 Avoid inappropriate public comments and personal opinions that can be construed as official;
5.9聽 Do not unfairly discriminate against any member of the public on account of race, gender, ethnic or social origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, political persuasion, belief, culture or language/dialect.
Section 6.聽 OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT/PRIVATE PRACTICE OF PROFESSION
6.1聽聽 As a general rule, 麻豆传媒 personnel shall not accept full time or聽 part-time employment in another office or聽 agency, private or public while on full time employment with the Council.聽 Applications for leave of absence where the purpose or reason is for employment in private or other government offices, either inside or outside the country shall not be allowed.
6.2聽 麻豆传媒 personnel may, however, be allowed to engage in private practice or profession on a limited basis, after securing authority from the Chairperson or her duly authorized representative, subject to the following conditions:
(a)聽聽 聽One (1) year residency with the Council;
(b)聽聽 聽At least very satisfactory performance for the year prior to the request for authority to engage in private practice of profession.聽 Renewal shall only be granted if the performance during the year covered by the聽 authority granted has been rated at least very satisfactory;
(c)聽聽 聽No government resources shall be used in furtherance of said private practice of profession;
(d)聽聽 聽The private practice of profession shall not affect the performance of the duties and responsibilities of聽 the personnel concerned.聽 He/she shall give priority to his/her official duties at all times;
(e)聽聽 聽Activities in relation to private practice of profession shall neither conflict nor tend to conflict with the official functions nor be prejudicial to the best interest of the service.聽 The private practice does not聽 require or induce the personnel concerned to disclose confidential information in relation to his/her official functions in the Council.
(f)聽聽 聽The practice of professional in private capacity shall be done outside office hours;
(g)聽聽 聽The request for renewal of authority shall be subject to the assessment and recommendation of
the Head of Agency;
(h)聽聽 聽聽 麻豆传媒 personnel who has been authorized to practice profession in private capacity shall
attach to聽 his/her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) his/her income tax
return for income earned in his/her private practice of profession.
Section 7.聽 POST EMPLOYMENT
Former 麻豆传媒 officials and employees who have joined private institutions and whose present employment bears a direct relationship with their former positions are strictly prohibited one (1) year after the resignation/separation or retirement from the 麻豆传媒 from making transactions, directly or indirectly, with incumbent 麻豆传媒 officials and employees, on any matter/case pending with 麻豆传媒, the approval of which had been dependent on the former 麻豆传媒 official/employee.
Incumbent officials and employees shall observe the following ethical standards in dealing with former 麻豆传媒 officials and employees.
7.1聽 In no instance or occasion, inside or outside the office, shall incumbent officials and employees
recommend the hiring of former 麻豆传媒 officials and employees within one (1) year after
resignation/separation/retirement except for a very highly technical job;
7.2聽 Incumbent official and employee should not聽 transact directly or indirectly with former 麻豆传媒
officials/employees in any matter related to procurement of goods/services;
7.3聽 The preceding prohibitions shall likewise apply to any transaction with the representative of said
former 麻豆传媒 officials and employees;
7.4聽聽 Incumbent staff/employees about to retire/terminate their services at 麻豆传媒 shall not give undue
favor to prospective NGOs/private organizations as future employer;
7.5聽 麻豆传媒 shall assess and recommend former employees for investigation should high suspicion or
evidence of hidden wealth within 3 years after retirement surface;
7.6聽 By way of exceptions, the following circumstances may be considered regular and proper ways
of relating with former 麻豆传媒 officials and employees:
7.6.1聽聽 During 麻豆传媒 legal and/or administrative proceedings
7.6.2聽聽 During request for DSWD assistance
7.6.3聽 Meeting strictly socially or by chance or accident between the incumbent officials or
employees and a former 麻豆传媒 official or employee
RULE II
POLICY ON NEPOTISM
Section 1.聽聽 Pursuant to civil service law and rules on nepotism, no appointments in the career service shall be issued to 麻豆传媒 personnel by an official as the head of the agency / appointing authority/immediate supervisor, who is a relative of the appointee within the third degree of affinity or consanguinity.
Section 2.聽 In case of marriage between officials or employees of the same office, the supervisor concerned shall recommend for change of place of assignment/assignment transfer of at least one of the subject official/employee.
RULE III
POLICY ON SEXUAL HARRASSMENT
Section 1. Complaints on sexual harassment shall be governed by CSC Resolution No. 01-0940 鈥淎dministrative Disciplinary Rules on Sexual Harassment Cases鈥� including penalties and gravity of the offense committed.聽 These Rules shall apply to all officials and employees of 麻豆传媒.
RULE IV
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Section 1.聽 麻豆传媒 officials and employees shall not engage, directly or indirectly, in any of the following or similar acts:
1.1聽聽 聽Enter into contract with the 麻豆传媒 for the supply of goods, equipment, supplies and other related items, and services including lease or sale of property;
1.2聽聽 聽Participate in any official action in which either he/she or any of his immediate family or relatives within the third civil degree of consanguinity or affinity will derive pecuniary or material benefit;
1.3聽聽 聽Recommend any person for employment to any supplier or any other person doing business with the Council; and
1.4聽聽 聽Give undue advantage/preference to anyone to further his personal/private interests.
Section 2.聽 No 麻豆传媒 official or employee shall receive money or other forms of remuneration for assisting or attending to parties engaged in transactions or involved in actions or proceedings with the Council.
RULE V
POLICY ON GIFT GIVING, ACCEPTING OF GIFTS, DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIP
A 鈥済ift鈥� refers to a thing or a right disposed of gratuitously, or any act of liberality, in favour of another who accepts it, and shall include a simulated sale or an ostensible disposition thereof (RA No. 6713).
In general, 麻豆传媒 shall follow a 鈥渘o gift policy鈥�.
Section 1.聽 Officials and employees shall not directly or indirectly request or receive any gift regardless of the amount, share percentage, or benefit for himself/herself, or for any other person in connection with any contract or聽 transaction with the Council, wherein the official or employee in his/her capacity can intervene or influence under the law.
Section 2.聽 Officials and employees shall not accept or receive any gift, donation and sponsorship, directly or indirectly, regardless of amount from any of the following:
(a)聽聽 聽Any bidder, supplier, contractor, service provider, technical expert or any other entity including their agents with contract/s with 麻豆传媒;
(b)聽聽 聽Any individual, counsel, witness, or their agent undergoing any fact-finding/formal investigation being conducted by 麻豆传媒; and
(c)聽聽 聽Any person or company transacting business with 麻豆传媒
Section 3.聽 Officials and employees shall not solicit, directly or indirectly, any gift, donation in cash or in kind and sponsorship for themselves or for others, regardless of the amount without the approval of the Head of the Agency.
Section 4.聽 Officials and employees shall not accept nor receive, directly or indirectly, any gift, donation, sponsorship, regardless of the amount, where this may influence present or future performance of their official functions.
Section 5.聽 Officials and employees may receive tokens of gratitude (whether cash, in kind or in the form of gift certificates) as appropriate to the ceremony or occasion to which the official/employee acted as a lecturer or as a resource speaker outside the Council.
Section 6.聽 Officials and employees may accept gifts, donations and sponsorships from individuals or organizations or their agents not covered in Section 2, provided that the gifts, donations and sponsorships were delivered/given in the workplace.聽 The gifts and donations received should be registered in the Registry Book of Gifts to be maintained by the Integrity Development Committee regardless of the amount.聽 Likewise, acknowledgement receipt shall be issued by the receiver if the gifts monetary value is Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) and above.聽 A quarterly report shall be provided by the Integrity Development Committee, copy furnished the Administrative Division.
RULE VI
POLICY ON PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
Article 2. Section 28 and Article 3, Section 7 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution state that:
鈥淪ubject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.鈥�
鈥淭he right of people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized.聽 Access to official records and to documents and papers pertaining to official records and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to government research data to be used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law鈥�.
麻豆传媒 hereby adopts a policy of full disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.
Section 1.聽 Every division of the Council shall make official information available for public knowledge, scrutiny, copying or reproduction, subject to the following conditions:
(a)聽聽 聽The request for information shall be in writing, containing the complete name, signature and address of the person making the request, including its purpose;
(b)聽聽 聽To ensure the security and safety of the records, copying or reproduction shall be done within the 麻豆传媒 premises;
(c)聽聽 聽聽聽 The information acquired shall be used only for lawful purposes.
Section 2.聽 The following documents and papers are exempted from disclosure:
(a)聽聽 聽Classified as 鈥渃onfidential鈥� where disclosure of such documents will result to loss of dignity of the persons with disabilities being聽 assisted/coordinated by the Council, or will further endanger the PWDs鈥� condition or case;
(b)聽聽 聽When unauthorized, disclosure thereof would constitute an undue invasion of personal privacy or will put the life of the officials and employees and their immediate families in danger;
(c)聽聽 聽 When disclosure will deprive a person of the right to a fair or an impartial adjudication
(d)聽聽 聽 When disclosure will pose a danger to the security of the state;
(e)聽聽 聽 When the Council limits the documents/papers as for 鈥淚nternal Use Only鈥�
(f)聽聽 聽 When non-disclosure is allowed by law
Section 3.聽 The appropriate Office/Division shall comply with the request for information within fifteen (15) working days from the receipt thereof or within a reasonable time mutually agreed upon by both the person making the request and the 麻豆传媒 Office/Division concerned.
Section 4.聽 In case of denial or request in whole or in part, the head of the agency shall notify the requesting party in writing or through electronic means within five (5) working days from receipt of the request.聽 The notice shall clearly indicate the name, designation or position of the person making the denial and the reasons for denial.
RULE VII
POLICY ON WHISTLE BLOWING
Section 1.聽 Encouraging Reporting of Malpractices, Corruption and Other Protected Disclosures
The Council聽 recognizes that an internal whistle blowing and reporting policy is necessary to encourage honest and excellent public service that will deter undesirable and corrupt practices.聽 This being the case, internal rules and standards have been formulated in order to ensure that:
(1)聽聽 聽 Disclosures are made to the proper public entity;
(2)聽聽 聽 The inappropriate publication of unsubstantiated disclosures does not damage the reputation of the whistleblowers/informers
Section 2.聽 Protection and Rights of Whistleblowers:
2.1聽 Protection Against Retaliatory Actions –聽 No Administrative action shall be entertained against a whistleblower involving a protected disclosure;
2.2聽 No Breach of Duty of Confidentiality –聽 A whistleblower that has an obligation by way of oath, rule or practice to maintain confidentiality of information shall not be deemed to have committed a breach of such duty if聽 he/she/they make/s protected disclosure of such information;
2.3聽 Protection of Whistleblowers even after investigation/case is closed/resolved-聽 the protection shall commence from the time the whistleblower made the protected disclosure in an investigation or testifies in a formal proceeding, if needed be, or until the threat, initimidation or harassment disappears or is reduced to a manageable or tolerable level.聽 This right may be extended to any member of the family of the聽 whistleblower within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.
Section 3.聽 Remedies and Administrative Sanctions
3.1聽 Violations of Confidentiality –聽 any employee who violated the protection of confidentiality of a protected disclosure and of the confidentiality of proceedings shall be subject to disciplinary actions as may be provided under relevant 麻豆传媒 issuances, Civil Service Commission issuances, the Administrative Code of 1987, RA No. 6713, RA No. 3019 and other relevant laws, rules and/or regulations.
3.2聽 Retaliatory Actions –聽 any employee who does, causes or encourages retaliatory actions, as defined in These Rules, against a whistleblower and/or employees supporting him/her, or any of his/her relatives within the fourth civil degree by consanguinity or affinity, shall be immediately subjected to administrative and/or criminal proceedings, and in appropriate cases, immediately placed under preventive suspension.
3.3聽 Perjurious Statements –聽 false and misleading disclosures or statements shall be sufficient ground for the termination of benefits of whistleblowers under these Rules, including his/her immunity from administrative cases as well as disciplinary proceedings against the whistleblower(s) as may be appropriate.
RULE VIII
RECEIVING AND HANDLING COMPLAINTS
Section 1.聽 No 麻豆传媒 personnel shall be removed nor suspended except for cause as provided by Law and after due process.
Section 2.聽 Any complaint against any officer or personnel of the Council under this Code shall be initiated by a verified complaint, or if not verified, is verifiable and supported by necessary evidence.聽 This section shall also cover situations wherein officers or personnel of the Council institute an administrative offense against a co-employee in the Council.
Section 3. Complaints whether verified or not shall be referred to the Grievance Committee for appropriate investigation and action. However, if the complaints involve the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director,聽 the subject complaint will be referred to the appropriate agency.
Section 4.聽 Any violation of this Code shall be subject to the pertinent provisions of the Civil Service rules on administrative due process, actions, sanctions and remedies.
RULE IX
INCENTIVES, REWARDS AND RECOGNITION
The provision of incentives, rewards and recognition has a significant impact on the performance and the development of capabilities of 麻豆传媒 officials and employees.聽 Incentive programs have been known to motivate employees to further improve their capacity and work diligently toward the accomplishment of their plans.聽 Rewards system also encourages creativity, innovativeness, efficiency, integrity and productivity in the public service towards the accomplishment of the Council鈥檚 mandate.
This rule is written with the objectives of maintaining, retaining and recognizing government employees who work with competence, efficiency and integrity and think with dynamism and dedication for the public service.
麻豆传媒 may provide these incentives and rewards, but not limited to the following:
1.聽聽 聽Local and foreign scholarship grants
2.聽聽 聽Attendance to conferences on official time
3.聽聽 聽Awarding of citations like trophies, plaques or appreciation or certificates
4.聽聽 聽Membership to professional organizations
In conferring the incentives, rewards, and recognition to its employees, 麻豆传媒 considers the following criteria:
1.聽聽 聽聽 Quality and consistency of performance
2.聽聽 聽聽 Uniqueness and exemplary quality of achievement
3.聽聽 聽聽 Quality of Character
4.聽聽 聽聽 Years of Service
5.聽聽 聽聽 Position and their salary level
All proposals for the provision of rewards/incentives must be submitted to the Program on Awards and Incentive for Service Excellence (PRAISE) Committee for their review and endorsement.聽 The PRAISE Committee shall draft their specific guidelines in revising incentive proposals.
RULE X
PENALTY AND SANCTIONS
Section 1.聽 Any deviation/violation of this Code shall be subject to appropriate sanctions in accordance with the civil service law and rules.
Section 2.聽 The verified complaint shall be referred to the 麻豆传媒 Chairperson for appropriate action.
RULE XI
EFFECTIVITY
This Code shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its issuance and circulation to all parties involved.
Issued this 8th聽 day of December , 2011 in Quezon City.
(ORIGINAL SIGNED)
ALICIA R. BALA
Officer-in-Charge/Executive Director