Launching of the DOTr Anti-Corruption Committee

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

As a manifestation of commitment to rid the government of corruption, the Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), officially launched the DOTr Anti-Corruption Committee (DOTr-ACC) in a virtual ceremony today, 25 November 2021.
DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Reinier Paul Yebra said the creation of the committee is pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the PACC for the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Coordinating Council under the Project Kasangga: Aksyon Laban sa Korapsyon.

The DOTr-ACC, created on 03 August 2021 through Special Order 2021-112, signed by Secretary Art Tugade, was directed to formulate policies to foster the Department’s fight against corruption. The DOTr-ACC is tasked to monitor and validate corruption-related cases as well as implement and promote anti-corruption programs in the agency.

On behalf of DOTr Secretary Art Tugade, DOTr Undersecretary for Administrative Service Artemio Tuazon, Jr. said the occasion paves way for the promotion of anti-corruption measures within the agency. He emphasized Secretary Tugade’s stern implementation of anti-corruption measures within the DOTr's ranks.

“Maski po simoy lang ng korapsyon sa ating Kagawaran at sa ating mga ahensyang kalakip dito ay hindi po niya pinalulusot. Not even tolerance. This clearly highlights Secretary Art Tugade’s desire for continued and long-lasting change,” Usec. Tuazon said.

Under Secretary Tugade’s leadership, the DOTr has been enforcing anti-corruption measures, such as a "one-strike” policy against corruption, the livestreaming of bidding and procurement processes, a "no noon-break" policy, no “kamag-anak” system, no gift policy, and the digitization or the shifting to an online processing of applications for licenses, franchises, and other related services, Usec. Yebra added.

“Ngayong araw na ito nais po naming iparating na buong-buo ang suporta ng DOTr, kasama ang sectoral agencies at pati mga private stakeholder sa anumang pagsisikap ng gobyerno laban sa katiwalian. Sama-sama, tayo po ay magsisikap na magbigay ng malinis at mahusay na serbisyo para sa mga Pilipino,” Usec. Yebra said.

Meanwhile, coinciding with the launching of the DOTr ACC is the simultaneous signing of the Manifesto and Declaration of Oath of Honesty by officials and employees of the DOTr and its 18 attached agencies.

More than a thousand personnel of the DOTr and its four sectors – Aviation, Railways, Road Transport, and Maritime – sealed their commitment through the nationwide signing and oath-taking before PACC Commissioner Atty. Yvette Contacto.

To recall, a similar ceremony was spearheaded by the PACC on 28 April 2021 for the launching of the Project Kasangga, while DOTr personnel first signed the pledge of commitment and took their oaths to uphold ethical practice and good governance on 14 December 2016.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), as service-oriented agencies directly dealing with stakeholders, will hold a similar event in the coming days.

In line with the anti-corruption drive, the public may call the DOTR Anti-Corruption Hotline 8790-8300 local 723, send an email to publicassistance@dotr.gov.ph for corruption-related complaints, and access the DOTr website and social media accounts in Facebook and Twitter for the public information campaigns.

2021 Freedom of Information Awards recognized DOTr as among the top-performing departments and national government agencies that excel in the area of transparency

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For the fifth consecutive year, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) secured its position during the 2021 Freedom of Information Awards on 25 November 2021, as among the top-performing departments and national government agencies that excel in the area of transparency.

The DOTr which remains at the forefront of upholding transparency in government service through its full public disclosure and in promoting the right of Filipinos to information, bagged the second runner-up award under the Department Category for the year 2020.

Transportation Secretary Art Tugade stressed that communication and prompt response to FOI requests are necessary to build the people’s trust in the government, and to uphold the right of citizens to freedom of information.

“I believe in full transparency in government service, by upholding the right of the citizenry to freedom of information and full disclosure on matters of public concern. It is communication, it is the information, and the timely sharing that will set a good platform of dialogue,” Secretary Tugade said.

A testament to the agency’s commitment to provide the public with accurate, comprehensive and timely information, the DOTr was among the first government agencies to enroll all of its attached agencies and offices to the e-FOI portal.

To ensure a nearly 100% response rate and successful response to requests for information, the DOTr FOI team ensures a proactive approach in answering requests lodged via the FOI portal as well as redirecting those who make requests to the proper and concerned agencies not under the purview of the DOTr and its attached agencies.

The FOI Awards is an annual celebration to recognize dedicated FOI partners, including government offices in the executive branch, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and other program implementers and stakeholders.

The event aims to highlight the FOI Program’s user-friendly mechanism to access government data and records.

Tin Can Art: Give the Gift That Gives This Christmas

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Tin Can Beginnings

Did you know that the practice of packaging biscuits and cookies in tin cans has been around since the 16^th century?

European voyagers packed biscuits as snacks for long trips and placed them in cans. Several hundred years later airtight cans, meant to store biscuits so they would not crumble and stay oven-fresh, were invented. Since then, tin cans have been the best containers for biscuits and cookies, evolving into pretty things that people kept, collected and reused.

This year, Rebisco is keeping the biscuits-in-tin cans tradition alive with its Special Edition Designer Cans. First introduced in 2018, each designer can is a mini version of the big, iconic Rebisco tin cans that have been favorite Pinoy pasalubongs for generations.

Tin Can Art Today

Look. The works of artists, both contemporary and budding talents -- Dominic Rubio, Aljo Pingol, plus three young artists from Regional Lead School of the Arts in Angono (RLSAA), Julia Baluyot, Dave Dauz and Lyra Lacanaria -- are immortalized on the sides of the special edition tin cans.

Familiar Filipino scenes, traditions, local heritage and everyday life are celebrated in bold, playful, dramatic and whimsical styles using striking, soothing and exciting colors. The artworks are original and unique to the designer cans.

This Christmas, if you’re looking for a gift that’s beautiful, meaningful, filled with goodies to the brim and literally a work of art, Rebisco’s Special Edition Designer Cans would make perfect presents.

Why You Should Buy Rebisco Designer Tin Cans

These junior-sized cans are not just lovingly packed with premium Rebisco biscuits, cookies, crackers and wafers, they are meant to be decorative pieces to be collected and displayed. They can be multifunctional containers too.

But the tin cans are not just all about aesthetic values. Each can is called “the gift that gives” because every can sold helps support the young student artists of the School of the Arts in Angono and the Calbayog Arts and Design School of Eastern Visayas (CADSEV) in Calbayog, Samar. Rebisco is providing the schools with art essentials, equipment and other resources that will help the young art scholars pursue their creative dreams in various art forms.

The contents of the designer tin cans are delightful as well. Only premium Rebisco products – Rebisco Sandwich Choco, Rebisco Sandwich Cream, Rebisco Cracker Plain, Rebisco Cracker Honey Butter, Wafertime Choco, Choco Mucho Cookies Choco, Choco Mucho Cookies White Choco, Hansel Crackers and Hansel Mocha – are in each can.

Hygienically packaged and sealed, each designer tin can is a safe and thoughtful Holiday gift. Very affordable at P195 each, they are available at the Rebisco Flagship Stores on Shopee and Lazada.