Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Special Concerns Waldo R. Carpio highlights the importance of serving the public with modesty, honesty, integrity accountability and loyalty during the Launching of the DA’s Anti-Corruption Committee and Opening of the 1st Anti-Corruption Summit on November 3, 2021
“Our Constitution, the very covenant that is the basis of all our laws and institutions, declared that the Public Office is a Public Trust and that Public Officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives and uphold public interest over personal interest,” Carpio said.
“With this declaration, we, public servants are reminded that the very position that we are occupying belongs not to us but to the people, where sovereignty resides. We are but mere custodians and servants,” he added.
In his message, Carpio said that “it is both our responsibility and duty to serve and to serve with integrity and accountability, free from any form of graft and corrupt practices that not only undermine the very institution we swore to protect and uphold but ultimately steers the people towards suffering and predicament. We must protect them from it at all cost”. He also challenged fellow government officials to continue to uphold their oath of honesty.
“With your utmost support, I am confident and I believe that a corrupt-free bureaucracy is now closer, if not already a reality. Let us continue to protect the people, our farmers and fisherfolk. Let us deliver what is due to them, a Masaganang ani at Mataas na kita na walang anumang bahid ng korapsyon,” he said.
By the virtue of DA Special Order no. 504, series of 2021 signed on July 19, 2021, the DA’s Anti-Corruption Committee (DA-ACC) were tasked to monitor and report corruption-related cases, investigations and action taken; validate information from other sources; formulate the agency’s anti-corruption policies, programs and activities; spearhead the agency’s anti-corruption campaign plan of action; identify corruption-prone processes in the agency; create a streamlined Complaint Action Center (Hotline); organize stakeholders to complement the committee; and conduct public information campaigns to generate support for the government’s anti-corruption programs.
During the event, DA and 49 other government agencies, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on September 2021 with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to solidify the whole-of-nation approach of the government to combat graft and corruption by formulating policy, action plans, or systems. This is also to intensify the anti-corruption campaign (PROJECT KASANGGA: Aksyon Laban sa Korapsyon) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Also present during the summit kick-off were DA Undersecretary for Agri-Industrialization and for Fisheries Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero, Presidential Anti-Corruption Committee (PACC) Commissioner Atty. Yvette C. Contacto, Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director-General Secretary Atty. Jeremiah B. Belgica, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) OIC-Director Eric B. Distor. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
