ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

 “Public accountability rests on both giving an account and on being held to account”
 R.A 6713- Code of conduct and Ethical standards for public officials and employees
 Section 1- Title: Code of conduct and Ethical standards for public officials and
employees
 Section 2- Declaration of Policies: promote a high standard of ethics in public
service
 Section 3- Definition of terms:
a. Government- national, local govt. other instrumentalities, agencies,
branches
b. Public officials- elective and appointed officials and employees, permanent
or temporary, in career or non-career service
c. Gift- thing or a right to dispose of gratuitously or any act of liberality
d. Receiving any gift- act of accepting directly or indirectly gift from a person
e. Loan- simple loan and commodatum as well as guarantees
f. Substantial stockholder- any person who owns directly or indirectly,
shares of stocks
g. Family of public officials or employees- spouses and unmarried children
under 18
h. Person- natural and juridical person
i. Conflict of interest- arises when a public official or an employee is a
member of board and has an interest in a business
j. Divestment- title of transfer or disposal of interest in property by voluntary
depriving oneself of his rights
k. Relatives- all persons related to the employee or public official within the 4th
degree of consanguinity
 Section 4- norms of conduct of public officials and employees
a. Commitment to public interest- shall always uphold the public interest
over or above personal interest
b. Professionalism- perform and discharge their duties with the highest
degree of excellence
 c. Justness and sincerity- shall remain true to the people at all times
d. Political neutrality- shall provide service to everyone without unfair
discrimination
e. Responsiveness to the public- shall extend prompt, courteous and
adequate service
f. Nationalism and patriotism- shall at all times be loyal to the republic and
to the Filipino people
g. Commitment to democracy- shall commit themselves to the democratic
life
h. Simple living- shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions
 Dissemination of info, programs and workshops
 Continuing research and experimentation measures
 Section 5- duties of public officials and employees:
a. Act promptly on letters and requests- w/in 15 days respond to letters
b. Submit annual performance reports- 45 working days from the end of
the year submit
c. Process documents and papers expeditiously- all official papers and
documents must be processed and completed in reasonable time not more
than 3 signatories
d. Act immediately on the public’s personal transactions- must attend to
anyone who wants to avail himself of the services
e. Make documents accessible to the public- all public docu must be
accessible to and readily available
 Section 6- system of incentives and rewards: establish to motivate and inspire
public servants
 Section 7- prohibited acts and transactions:
a. Financial and material interest-shall not have any financial or material
interest in any transaction
b. Outside employment and other activities- shall not control, manage,
accept, broker, consultant, trustee; engage in private practice of their
profession; recommend any person to any position in a private enterprise
 c. Disclosure or misuse of confidential info- shall not use of divulge
confidential info
d. Solicitation or acceptance of gifts- shall not accept gift, gratuity, favor
 Section 8- statements of disclosure- accomplish and submit declarations under oath
a. Statements of assets and liabilities and financial disclosure- shall file
under oath their SALEN
 Real property
 Investments, cash on hand
 Personal property
 Liabilities
 Business interests
b. Identification and disclosure of relatives- identify and disclose his
relatives in the govt
c. Accessibility of documents
 Section 9- divestment: shall avoid conflict of interest
 Section 10- review and compliance procedure:
 Section 11- penalties:
 Section 12- promulgation of rules and regulations, administrations and
enforcement of this act
 Section 13- provisions for more stringent standards
 Section 14- appropriations
 Section 15- separability cause
 Section 16- repealing clause
 Section 17- effectivity