Ladies and gentlemen, magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.

It is our pleasure to be a part of this momentous event of the Project Kasangga Anti-Corruption Manifesto signing. This signing is in line with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s commitment to fighting corruption and anti-red tape through the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), as led by Commissioner Yvette C. Contacto and Chairman Greco B. Belgica. As such, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is more than happy and honored to be part of PACC’s commitment to promoting God-centered anti-corruption advocacy and moral transformation.

In view of this, DTI commits to partner with PACC to pursue investigative inquiries and lifestyle checks, particularly on Presidential appointees who are allegedly involved in graft and corruption practices. We further commit to provide information/documents of the government officials and/or employees being investigated. Bilang unang hakbang, ang DTI ay tumutulong na po sa pagbibigay ng impormasyon ng business names ng mga opisyal at empleyado na iniimbestigahan. We have already replied to PACC’s first request and will continuously cooperate on matters within the Department’s jurisdiction to ensure public accountability and governance.

More importantly, we support Project Kasangga’s objectives to ensure that graft and corruption cases, if any, in our Department, will be dealt with fairly and objectively. Gagawin po ito sa pamamagitan ng streamlined process na magsisiguro ng isang mabilis na pagsisiyasat at pagsasara ng mga kaso.

To support PACC’s objective to provide an accessible avenue to report complaints, including graft and corruption cases, if any, DTI commits itself to provide the necessary environment and culture to open the doors of communication to report any complaints. This also includes suggestions to improve the service that we provide, as well as any incidents of abuse of power and other unworthy acts as public servants. We take these matters seriously by providing immediate response to the referrals of the Civil Service Commission’s Contact Center ng Bayan (CCB) to support anti-red tape measures.

Ganoon na lang po ang commitment ng pamilya po ng DTI against corruption. Sa amin po, pinapairal po naming ang kind government service mindset. We are here to serve the people, tayo po ay trabahante sabi nga ng ating Pangulong Duterte. Kaya it is really integral in our system ang pagbibgyan ng service at magkaroon din ng customers, ika-nga satisfaction.

Mayroon kaming motto or slogan dito sa DTI, “Serbisyo na Higit Pa sa Inaasahan,” kaya naman po ako ay proud na sabihin na dito po sa DTI ay masisisguradong naka-dedicate ang serbisyo, marangal at malinis at talagang hardworking ang aming officials. Subalit itutuloy po natin ang pag bantay sa lahat ng hanay na kawani sa DTI.

We also ensure speedy resolution of complaints sent through the Office of the President’s 8888 Hotline. For this year, we have 100% resolution of complaints in January and February, while we have 95.83% and 94.44% resolution rates for March and April, respectively. We pledge that we will closely monitor all pending complaints to achieve full resolution of all referrals.

To further support the public’s concerns, we have our DTI Call Center hotline at 1-384 that is open from Monday to Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays. Puwede rin po sila tumawag sa 0917.834.3330 o mag-email sa ask@dti.gov.ph para humingi ng kahit anong tulong na maaari nilang kailanganin mula sa DTI.

In addition, specifically for consumer complaints, you can easily file a complaint through our customercare@dti.gov.ph. We are pleased to announce that we were able to readily adapt to the changing times and we now conduct mediation online so that complainants need not physically go to DTI to initiate the resolution of their complaints.

Internally, we also have measures in place so that our officials’ and employees’ concerns may be raised. We have our Fact-Finding Committee as an initial platform to explore complaints filed against DTI officials and employees. Further, the Formal Investigation Committee (FIC) of DTI Directors can conduct an investigation to further check the veracity of the complaints. 

Meanwhile, we remain committed to supporting Republic Act (RA) No. 11032 or the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.” Kaya po patuloy kami sa pag-streamline ng aming mga sistema at pamamaraan para mabawasan o mapigilan ang graft and corruption sa aming ahensya. Because of this, we enrolled a total of 32 frontline services in our Citizen’s Charter to ensure that we continuously abide towards a more timely and efficient response to the public.

These frontline services in the Charter are collectively pledged by our different functional groups. These groups cover the areas of Competitiveness and Innovation, Consumer Protection, Trade Promotions, Industry Development and Trade Policy, Regional Operations, and other frontline services.  For internal services, we are committed to 62 frontline services in the areas of Management Services, Trade Promotions, and Regional Operations—all to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of services from within.

Further, we commit to e-governance and digitalization/ automation of our different processes to limit face-to-face interaction and to further speed up our services.  Particularly, our Business Name Registration, since being online, only takes a total of eight minutes for an end-to-end transaction.

Internally, we have the Internal Audit Service (IAS) to evaluate the outcome, output, process, and input to determine if our operations, programs, and projects are effective, efficient, ethical, and economical. They also check if these comply with laws, regulations, managerial policies, accountability measures, and contractual obligations. Lastly, they check whether or not performance targets and expected results are achieved to ensure service excellence.

More importantly, DTI maintains its transparency and ensures that its procurement and financial processes abide in accordance with applicable government laws and regulations.

Having a transparent, corrupt-free government agency that is responsive to the public’s needs is an integral part of our efforts to build back better in the wake of COVID-19. Higit pa rito, tinutupad po nito ang pangako ng Pangulo ng isang pamahalaang may Tapang at Malasakit para mabigyan ang ating mga kababayan ng isang mas maginhawa at mas mataas na kalidad ng buhay.

To end, we would like to emphasize that the DTI commits to being a kasangga or partner of PACC and all government agencies to guarantee a corruption-free country. One of the Department’s values is Integrity.  As reflected in our good governance manifesto posted on our walls: “We do not tolerate corruption in any form, at any level. We uphold the public’s interest over our own. We are vanguards of the people’s trust, and stewards of government resources. We are steadfast and undivided in being honest, fair, and impartial.”♦

Date of Release: 31 May 2021