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FIRST MARCHING ORDERS

Duterte to department heads: Reduce red tape, refrain from bending rules


In his first marching orders to his Cabinet secretaries and heads of agencies, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday directed them to reduce requirements and the processing time of all applications, and to refrain from changing the rules in government contracts and transactions.

Duterte, officially sworn into the presidency at noon of June 30, said these are his policies "which cannot wait for tomorrow to be announced."

"I direct all department secretaries and the heads of agencies to reduce requirements and the processing time of all applications, from the submission to the release. I order all department secretaries and heads of agencies to remove redundant requirements and compliance with one department or agency, shall be accepted as sufficient for all," Duterte said.

"I order all department secretaries and heads of agencies to refrain from changing and bending the rules government contracts, transactions and projects already approved and awaiting implementation. Changing the rules when the game is on-going is wrong," he added.

Duterte stressed that he “abhors secrecy and instead advocates transparency" in government contracts and transactions. 

Duterte also warned agency heads that they will be sacked from their posts if they fail to fulfill his instructions. "Do them and we will work together. Do not do them and we will part sooner than later." 

Duterte, former city mayor of Davao and elected to his post with more than 16 million votes, urged the public to join him in his journey as the new chief executive of the country.

"The ride will be rough but come and join me just the same. Together, shoulder to shoulder, let us take the first wobbly steps in this quest," he said. — KBK/RSJ, GMA News

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