TURN-OVER OF THE DART PROJECT FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION TO THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

On September 14, 1988 , the CSC launched the DART
(Do-Away-With-Red-Tape) Project, in line with its constitutional mandate
to adopt measures to promote morale, efficiency, integrity,
responsiveness and courtesy in the civil service and to institutionalize
a management climate conducive to public accountability. DART Acting
Centers were established to serve as people’s grievance machinery that
would process feedbacks on-matters pertaining to government’s delivery
of public service.

After several months of operation, the DART Project has shown to
have a strong impact on both the public and the government agencies. And
judging from its present state it could very well serve as a
mass-oriented strategy that can forge an alliance between the government
and the general public.

Recent developments, however, require that the operation of the DART
Project be taken over by the Office of the Ombudsman. Pursuant to
Republic Act 6713 (Section 7, Rule III) and the Rules Implementing the
Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and
Employees, all requests for public assistance and complaints shall be
immediately acted upon by the resident Ombudsman of every government
office who shall work in coordination with the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Philippine Constitution mandates the Ombudsman and his Deputies,
as advocates of the people to act promptly on complaints filed in any
form or manner against public officials or employees of the government
and in appropriate cases notify the complainants of the action taken and
results thereof.

For purposes of effective implementation of a unified and
well-coordinated nationwide public assistance program, as well as
situating government programs where they properly belong, the CSC is
turning over the DART Project in its entirety to the Office of the
Ombudsman in a formal ceremony to be held on October 12, 1989 .

Immediately after the turnover rites all DART records and cases and
all information materials including DART paraphernalia (such as posters,
stickers, covers for DART primer, pins, etc.) shall be handed to the
staff of the Office of the Ombudsman. The DART Project shall henceforth
be completely a concern of the Office of the Ombudsman.

For your information and guidance.

Adopted: 23 Aug. 1989

(SGD.) PATRICIA A. STO. TOMAS
Chairman

Effective: 12 October 1989