Senator Raffy Tulfo files the Anti-Taray Bill, a proposed legislation that seeks to punish rude and snobbish government workers who disrespect, humiliate, shout at, or abuse the public who go to their offices to transact. Tulfo said that such behavior creates an atmosphere of fear and mistrust in government institutions, agencies, and personnel.
The bill was inspired by the recent incident of a Filipina traveler who was offloaded from her flight to Israel after being questioned by an immigration officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Tulfo said that the questions were unreasonable and unnecessary and that the traveler was treated like a criminal.
The bill seeks to impose stiffer penalties on government employees guilty of misconduct, harassment, and even human rights violations. The penalties include dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from public office, said Tulfo. The senator also said that government workers should be patient and service-oriented, not snobbish and arrogant.
The bill also seeks to conduct an inquiry on the matter, with the end view of proposing remedial measures to address the situation. Tulfo said that he wants to improve the citizen satisfaction score of government services, which declined from 86.93 in 2018 to 70.14 in 2020, according to a survey by the Development Academy of the Philippines.
The bill has not yet been scheduled for deliberation in the Senate. Some critics questioned the effectiveness of harsh penalties for rude government staff and suggested that positive measures such as training, incentives, and feedback mechanisms may be more helpful.
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The Anti-Taray Bill is one of the latest issues that affect Filipinos who deal with government offices. What do you think of this bill? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Image: Senate of the Philippines Facebook
