President Duterte gave an ultimatum to all government agencies to either approve or disapprove transactions brought to their offices by the public by December 15 as he lamented that the slow processing of papers in the government remains to be a source of corruption.
In a speech delivered on Wednesday night, the President expressed his frustration over the delay in the process, adding that he will look into the gravity of the situation.
“It seems that things are moving very slow. And that is why it is still a source of corruption. The longer you sit on the paper or nothing at all—either you are not working, you are a… I don’t know what you’d do with government,” Duterte said during the 80th anniversary commemoration of the Department of National Defense at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“I must have your decision of the papers before you. And I said last night, it has to be December 15. It’s been so many months now. Papers that are on your table must be out with a decision. If it’s for approval, good; if it is for denial, fine. But let it out,” he added.
The Chief Executive cited that some contracts even in the military have been languishing for the past two years.
He also warned government workers that it would be better for them to ask for their replacement if they are not up to the challenge of their mandated duties.
“If you think that you are not up to the mandate of being hurried up, and then you go out and tell your commander to replace you,” he said. “Even the directors, I saw some contracts there.”
The President also said he doesn’t care how workers will be able to comply with his directive as long as they would be able to get the job done.
“Now, if you have to drive your workers to death working, kill them doing work. I cannot—I only have two years left. I want to leave my presidency with a comfortable heart…,” he said.
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