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Ethics and Accountability in Public Service

The document summarizes a discussion on ethics and accountability in public service held by Group Mabait. It discusses key concepts like ethics, accountability, deontological and teleological ethics. It also outlines the group's discussion of a scenario involving a public official receiving an expensive gift from a charitable group. The group cited laws prohibiting public officials from accepting gifts and the penalties for doing so. They concluded citizens should prioritize serving their country with dignity over accepting gifts.

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Jessie Cajala-Tobia
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74 views3 pages

Ethics and Accountability in Public Service

The document summarizes a discussion on ethics and accountability in public service held by Group Mabait. It discusses key concepts like ethics, accountability, deontological and teleological ethics. It also outlines the group's discussion of a scenario involving a public official receiving an expensive gift from a charitable group. The group cited laws prohibiting public officials from accepting gifts and the penalties for doing so. They concluded citizens should prioritize serving their country with dignity over accepting gifts.

Uploaded by

Jessie Cajala-Tobia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Ethics and Accountability

Reflection No. 6
By: Group Mabait
Jayson Cajala
Flordeliz Hernandez
Joderick Malihan

Last Saturday, July 2, 2022, we discussed Ethics and Accountability in Public Service.
First, we discussed the definition of Ethics and Accountability; according to Prof. Cortez
was an essential aspect everyone working in Government should have. Based on our
discussion, Ethics refers to principles by which to evaluate behavior as right or wrong,
good or bad. In the public sector, ethics refers to well-based standards of right and
wrong and prescribes what public servants ought to do. As we continued with the
discussion, ethics consisted of 2 theories: Deontological Ethics and Teleological Ethics.
She defined Teleological Ethics as a theory of ethics as utilitarianism or ethical egoism,
according to which the rightness of an act was determined by its end,
and Deontological Ethics, an action was considered morally good because of some
characteristic of the action itself, not because the product of the action was good.
Deontological ethics holds that at least some acts were morally obligatory regardless of
their consequences for human welfare.

On the other hand, Accountability was a fundamental principle of good governance.


Accountability was the obligation of a public servant or department to account for its
activities, accept responsibility for them, and transparently disclose the results, Prof.
Cortez said.

The public service code of conduct articulated the concept and expectation of
accountability. Within a division, firstly, the behavior is bounded by rules and
regulations; secondly, civil servants are subordinates in a hierarchy and accountable to
superiors.

Accountability is a concept in political science and ethics with several meanings. It is


often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability,
enforcement, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the
expectation of account-giving. As an aspect of governance, it has been central to
discussions related to problems in both the public and private worlds.
Our class was divided into four groups to discuss different ethical and accountability
situations. As students of the Masters in Public Administration, we must know the laws
that govern the ethical and accountability standards crafted by the Civil Service
Commission and all laws of the Philippines pertaining to it.

Given by Prof. Cortez, we, consisting of yours truly, Liz and Joderick tagged as the
Group Mabait, discussed “RECEIVING GIFTS” as our topic, which includes the following
situation:

You are traveling around the south to meet charitable groups in which you are
interested in establishing a connection as contributor. When you stop by the
headquarters of one of the groups, you are presented with an expensive gift as a token
of their appreciation. What do you do?

At the beginning of our discussion, we cited the laws prohibiting public officials and
employees from accepting gifts as wages or any of the same acts. These laws were as
follows:

 RA 3019 considers requesting a gift in connection with any contract or


transaction wherein the public officer in his official capacity has to intervene or in
exchange for help to be given in securing or obtaining any Government permit or
license as a corrupt act punishable by law.
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6713. AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CODE OF CONDUCT AND
ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC. OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, TO UPHOLD
THE TIME-HONORED PRINCIPLE OF PUBLIC OFFICE BEING A PUBLIC TRUST,
GRANTING INCENTIVES AND REWARDS FOR.
 Presidential Decree No. 46 of 1972 Making It Punishable For Public Officials
And Employees To Receive, And For Private Persons To Give, Gifts On Any
Occasion, Including Christmas.

Wherein, under existing laws and the civil service rules, it is prohibited to receive,
directly or indirectly, any gift, present, or any other form of benefit in the course of
official duties;

It was believed necessary to put more teeth to existing laws and regulations to wipe
out all conceivable forms of graft and corruption in the public service, the members of
which should not only be honest but above suspicion and reproach; and

The stoppage of the practice of gift-giving to government men was a concrete step in
the administration's program of reforms for the development of new moral values in the
social structure of the country, one of the main objectives of the New Society.
For violations, the penalty of imprisonment for not less than one (1) year nor more than
five (5) years and perpetual disqualification from public office shall be imposed. The
official or employee concerned shall likewise be subject to administrative disciplinary
action and, if found guilty, shall be meted out the penalty of suspension or removal,
depending on the seriousness of the offense.

Finally, we have provided a takeaway to our classmates "do not waste your work in the
government just for the gift." Because even more important was our dignity as a
person, the moment we reached our dream job in the government, it was an honor and
privilege to serve our country more than anything else.

Common questions

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The document illustrates public office as a public trust through ethical guidelines and laws that mandate transparency and accountability. Public servants are obligated to act in the public interest, abstain from corrupt practices like accepting gifts, and maintain integrity to preserve the honor associated with serving the country .

The document suggests that ethics and laws are pivotal in establishing a culture of integrity within public service. Laws such as RA 6713 and Presidential Decree No. 46 set standards to uphold public office as a public trust, discouraging unethical practices like gift-receiving, thereby fostering a culture of transparency and accountability .

Accountability is crucial in public service as it embodies the obligation of public servants to account for their activities and accept responsibility. It is maintained through adherence to defined rules and regulations, hierarchical reporting structures, and by being subject to laws that articulate public servants’ responsibilities to ensure transparency and integrity .

Ethics and accountability are foundational to governance. Ethics provides the moral framework for determining right actions, while accountability ensures compliance and responsibility, reinforcing ethical standards. Effective governance integrates these elements to foster transparency, reduce corruption, and maintain public trust .

The ethical implications include potential conflicts of interest and corruption, as gift-giving and receiving can influence a public official's actions or decisions. It undercuts the core principle of public office as a public trust, leading to loss of integrity and public distrust. The laws aim to prevent these ethical breaches by prohibiting such practices and punishing violations .

A public servant applying deontological ethics would make decisions based on rules or duties inherently right, regardless of outcomes. With teleological ethics, decisions would focus on the consequences, choosing actions that result in the best outcomes for the public. Both frameworks guide ethical decision-making, balancing duty with practical outcomes .

Understanding ethics and accountability enables public administrators to make informed decisions that align with legal standards and ethical principles, reducing the risk of corruption and enhancing public trust. It ensures decisions are consistent with the public good, fostering a culture of responsibility and transparency in administration .

Failing to adhere to ethical standards can lead to severe legal, professional, and personal consequences, including imprisonment, loss of public office, and damage to reputation. It diminishes public trust and undermines the credibility of government institutions, potentially leading to widespread corruption and inefficiency in public service .

Deontological ethics determines the morality of an action based on the action's inherent characteristics, regardless of its consequences. In contrast, teleological ethics assesses the rightness of an action based on its outcomes, where the consequences define its moral value .

Accepting gifts in public service is legally prohibited under RA 3019, RA 6713, and Presidential Decree No. 46. Violations lead to penalties, such as imprisonment, disqualification from public office, and administrative disciplinary actions. These laws support ethical governance by preventing corruption and ensuring public trust in government officials, underscoring the importance of maintaining integrity and avoiding conflicts of interest .

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