BAGUIO CITY – The city government will not tolerate the existence of fixers in the different offices pursuant to the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) but the public must be brave enough in providing the identity of the supposed fixers so that appropriate charges will be filed against them.
Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan admitted the existence of fixers in the different offices of the city in the past because of the introduction of state-of-the-art information and communication technology (ICT) that have significantly improved the transactions, many of the fixers ceased to exist.
“We need the support of the transacting public for us to succeed in our move to eradicate fixers in the city government. Complainants must be willing to provide us the identity of the fixers who continue to practice their illegal trade in the different city offices so that we will be able to go after him to avoid witch hunting in the said offices,” Domogan stressed.
The local chief executive pointed out concerned offices of the local government had been vigilant on the existence of fixers that is why their number significantly declined over the past several years but he still continues to receive reports on the existence of fixers although the complainants refuse to provide him the identities of the city hall employees they are accusing as fixers.
According to him, the employees subject of the complaints of being fixers must also be given the needed due process as a matter of right before concerned offices of the city government render the appropriate decision on what penalties will be imposed against them.
He claimed the city could not blame the public if they opt to avail of the services of fixers in the past because of the alleged too much red tape but with the significant improvement in the services of the city government, particularly the electronic business permitting and licensing system among others, fixers are no longer required considering the immediate processing of the required documents among other major requirements.
On the other hand, he understand the predicament of the transacting public, especially of what was agreed upon was not actually delivered, because they do not want employees to be unjustly removed from their offices, thus, there is a need for them to balance the implication of their actions before formally submitting their complaints against those fixers who continue to practice their trade.
Domogan said complaints against identified fixers have to go through the regular process of investigation by the concerned offices that is why the public should be patient in awaiting whatever decisions to be rendered by the investigators before judging whether or not their complaints were acted upon appropriately by the concerned departments.
By Dexter A. See
