“Sa paghahatid natin ng maagap at mapagkalingang serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan, sinisikap at sinisigurado rin natin na wala itong bahid ng anumang katiwalian. Corruption has no room in the Department.”

This was emphasized by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Jose Antonio R. Hernandez as he delivered his inspirational message to the agency employees at the recently conducted “IntegriTALK: Let’s talk about Integrity” organized by the DSWD-Integrity Management Committee (IMC).

The activity was conducted to provide a facilitative learning opportunity for the participants to have a better understanding of integrity, accountability, and transparency, which are the basic principles of good governance that public servants are expected to practice.

Assistant Secretary Hernandez recalled that in 2009, the budget of DSWD was at P10.5 billion. From thereafter, it increased every year.  This year, the budget has been pegged at P177.9 billion. The more than 1600% surge in the budget of the Department in a span of ten years resulted in the expansion of its workforce and additional programs and services for the marginalized and vulnerable sectors in the country.

“Sa pagtaas ng budget na ipinagkatiwala sa ating kagawaran ay ang mataas din na responsibilidad na nakaatang sa atin upang pangalagaan at protektahan ito,” the Assistant Secretary added.

He also shared that the Office of the President and the Office of the Ombudsman lauded DSWD for being the frontrunner in the implementation of the flagship national corruption-prevention program of the government – the Integrity Management Program (IMP).

DSWD has been implementing the program since 2015. With the program, the Department is able to strengthen its anti-corruption activities not just in the Central Office but in all of its Field Offices and attached agencies.

Moreover, through the active implementation of the IMP and the promotion of integrity building in DSWD, Assistant Secretary Hernandez said that the Department is supportive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s call to end corruption in the bureaucracy.

Further, he appealed to the employees to always observe integrity while performing their duties and responsibilities as public servants and ensure the delivery of corrupt-free programs and services.

“Ang aking panawagan, siguraduhing naaayon sa batas at tamang proseso ang mga programa at serbisyong inihahatid sa ating mga kababayan. Walang shortcuts. Walang idinadaan sa palakasan. Walang under the table. Walang katiwalian,” he concluded. -30-