Reflections on the Distance Learning Program on the Rules of Conduct and Ethical

Behavior in the Civil Service (RA 6713)

Submitted by:
Myla Leonelle A. Rodrigo
Submitted on:
October 2015
Date Started:
September 24, 2015

LESSON 1 :

THE NORMS OF CONDUCT FOR PUBLIC

OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES

A. COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC INTEREST
How can you show your commitment to public interest?
With everything, one must first start with the mindset. I would remind myself
that the resources used in the government are paid for by the taxes of the
citizens of the Philippines which would include me. Therefore, by putting
myself together in the shoes of others, I would be enraged of I would know
that what Im paying for is being put into waste by people whom I have given
my full trust in making this nation better. Also, a nice thought to keep is that
the taxpayers are paying for my salary. Thus, they should be entitled to be
given the best service.
By keeping this in mind, ones action will then follow. One would think twice in
wasting the meager resources in running the government. Good
housekeeping practices should be observed. A specific example would be,
reusing the blank back side of bondpapers. Transactions too, if possible can
be made digitally and paperless to make processes faster and conserve
resources. The offices ventilation can be improved to lessen electricity
consumption.
B. PROFESSIONALISM
How can you become more professional? How can you improve the
work you do in the office to improve your service to the public?
To improve over-all output of the agency, results of the agencys evaluation
system such as the SPMS can be analyzed to see if what improvements can
be done. Benchmarking, too can be helpful to see if there are good practices
from another agency that can be imitated and initiated in our own. The
employees esprit d corps can be fostered through teambuilding activities.
To improve individual output, I could participate in training relevant to my
position to equip myself with updated knowledge, skills and practices in my
line of work.
C. POLITICAL NEUTRALITY
How can you put into practice political neutrality?
I would be wary of my actions that might show any inkling to anyone
especially when elections are fast approaching. In the local/provincial
government units, for example where political influence is much stronger and
direct, if I can help it, I would not do any requests that are in favor of a

politician. I will try to maintain the impartiality through the principle of merit
at all times.

D. JUSTNESS AND SINCERITY

Can you recall an experience when your honesty was tested? Or
when you became a victim of dishonesty?
Since I have not been employed ever, I can only share an experience during
my college days. Unknown to some in our class including me, some
classmates were plotting a massive cheating during one of our final exams. It
was later discovered by the professor because someone told her about it. The
teacher then assumed that we were all in it and threatened to fail us all. In
the end, one of the principal brains behind the cheating managed to appease
the teacher since the teacher was gullible.
Even in the end, it was like it was nothing happened, I was deeply insulted
since I felt my name was tainted. Im not washing my hands. I do lie but not
to a large extent that involves seemingly discrediting all the hard work Ive
done in the past. It was like telling me I got through where I am because of
some dirty tactics. I take pride in my work. And if I didnt particularly prepare
well for something, Id gladly accept the consequences of my actions even if
it be unpleasurable.
1. What can you conclude from your story or experience?
What I learned about the experience is sooner or later, things like these
will be discovered. If not, karma will in some way work its way to serve
justice. Further, people who engage in these unethical practices will not
hesitate achieve what they want to even if innocent people may be
dragged down.
Dishonesty from what I observed is a result of repetitive happenings of
getting away in the past. Because of the many times they successfully
have gotten away with things, this idea os dishonesty have become
ingrained that it is just okay.
2. What can you say about honesty? About being just and sincere?
Honesty to me is not just a one-time thing. It is incorporated it to ones
life. There are many temptations in the world. There are many instances
wherein your honesty and integrity can be tested.
Your actions show if youre really honest and sincere in your work or just
merely doing things for compliance so you can get your salary.
With regard to justness and sincerity, it boils down to respecting one
another regardless of ones standing in life. It is giving everybody equal
opportunities to something.
3. How can you show justness and sincerity in the performance of
your work?

I think it is in first recognizing that you owe your job to the public. This
particular norm of conduct is closely similar to Commitment to Public
Interest. As the Constitution provides, Public office is a public trust. Most
of us complain how things run in the government. By being employed now
in the government, we should try and change that image.
Things such as properly declaring Even when sometimes the chance
Filipinos are known for its close family ties that sometimes extends even
to matters of government service. To show justness and sincerity, a public
employee or
E. RESPONSIVENESS TO THE PUBLIC
How can you show responsiveness? What realizations did you gain
from this session? List down below your answer.
F. NATIONALISM AND PATRIOTISM
My Feelings as a Filipino
1. How do you feel now for the country? Do you now feel a sense of
pride for her knowing how powerful Filipinos are as people?
How would you show your love for her? How much do you care
about her?
Feel dismayed by how much potential I see in her but the Philippines is still
struggling to reach that potential. Because the primary needs of her people
are not met due to poverty, people have this attitude of self-interest. They
tend to prioritize themselves and their families sometimes without due regard
to others.
Or on the flipside, the rich are comfortable with being rich. I think there is
lack of awareness. Not knowing how struggle and poverty feels like, most feel
complacent with the status quo. That is, a large discrepancy between the
lives of the poor and the rich.
Regar
2. Enumerate eight (8) things you can be proud about Filipinos or
about the Philippines.
Description
Tourism

Why Do You Say So?

G. COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY
Would you write in one paragraph your feelings or insights about the
importance of democracy in a free and just society?
H. SIMPLE LIVING
Write your insights by completing the following sentences. You can come up
with as many sentences as you can.

LESSON 2