PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order (EO) institutionalizing "8888" as the citizens' complaint hotline and establishing a complaint center.
Duterte signed EO 6 on October 14, or two months after the government launched the "8888" hotline in August.
The OCS is mandated to collaborate with other government agencies in the operation of the 8888 citizens' complaint center.
Under the EO, the complaint center will serve as "a mechanism where citizens may report their complaints and grievances on acts of red tape, as defined under Republic Act 9845 and other relevant laws, and/or corruption of any national government agency, government-owned or -controlled corporation (GOCC), government financial institution, and other instrumentalities of the government."
The complaint center is scheduled to operate 24 hours a day, from Mondays to Sundays, excluding national holidays and work suspensions.
Apart from the "8888" telephone hotline, the complaint center is directed to provide other communication channels like short message service, electronic mail, website, and social media, as well as any other emerging communication medium.
The EO states that the citizens' concerns "shall immediately be referred, directly or indirectly, to the concerned government agency, office or instrumentality for appropriate action."
The concerns are supposed to have a "concrete and specific" action within 72 hours from the receipt of the concern by the proper government agency or instrumentality.
For efficient and hasty service, all national government agencies and GOCCs are encouraged to cooperate with the OCS.
The Budget department will determine the funding for the implementation of the complaint center.
Earlier, Duterte said he will have a one-hour morning show to hear the complaints of the citizens against the erring public officials.
The President said he will then contact the supposed corrupt government employees to give them a chance to refute the allegations hurdled against them. (Sunnex)