The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has launched its own anti-graft panel to look into irregularities within the agency.
At the culmination of the National Shelter Month celebration, Secretary Eduardo del Rosario spearheaded the official rollout of their anti-corruption committee and administered the oath of commitment to panel members.
He said the committee aimed to “create and sustain a venue for checks-and-balances in our policies, programs and operations, ensuring full integrity among us, our backbone of honesty while we cultivate service excellence.”
“Let me also take this opportunity to thank the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, led by chairperson Greco Belgica, for uplifting the pride and dignity of the men and women in the bureaucracy through his stern and logical campaigns on good and clean governance,” he said.
Under Executive Order 43 as amended by EO No. 73, all agencies in the executive branch are obliged to form their respective anti-corruption committees.
Gracing the event were Undersecretary Marylin Pintor and Undersecretary Zyril Carlos.
Pintor cited the importance of the committee in safeguarding departmental anti-corruption policies, compliance practices and enforcement trends.
“As corruption has a very secretive nature, it is one of the most difficult crimes to investigate. We cannot allow such a despicable act to infiltrate this institution, which we have all carefully maintained clean and transparent,” she added.
Assistant Secretary Avelino Tolentino III, committee chairperson, described the anti-corruption panel as a platform to ensure integrity and honesty among public servants.
“In all honesty, we can provide for numerous functions of each Anti–Corruption Committee, but it boils down to promoting a high standard of ethics in public service and that public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest,” he said.