A few weeks ago I went to the Department of Social Welfare and Development office* of the Municipality of Angono, Rizal for the purpose of conducting a research on the social welfare programs being undertaken by the local government unit for its constituents. To make the long story short me and my associates were informed by a rather "clerk-ish" looking woman that the Head of the DSWD office was on leave for a week and as such, and repeatedly stated that no information could be released without the individuals express permission and without a formal letter of request.
This struck me as a rather stupid setup. First of all it demonstrated that there was nobody designated as the "second-in-command" to make decisions in the absence of the Head, meaning that no work will actually get done if a decision had to be made. Second I was not informed that the social welfare programs of a local government on a 1st class municipality were a matter of national security and should therefore be guarded jealously. I believe this person imagined this moment as an opportunity to lord her influence over others, that instead of being supportive, chose rather to be combative in order to protect thier little kingdom.
But what would be most disturbig is that what if the local DSWD did not have any programs which support social development? Now that would be another surprise! Another government office with no programs? How could that happen in the Philippines?!
But in the end sometimes I cannot really blame these people, if your work can be summed up in one word: "clerical". This also includes those who've been in that position for years with no hope of advancement or drive to improve. No, indeed I cannot blame them because the world needs mean and incompetent people with no better prospects for the future to ensure that the make the world a more exciting place.
In the start I was angry, now I just feel pity. Sucks to be you.
*The Local Government Code of 1991 was created to allow many functions of the national government such as health, education, social welfare and development, etc, to be devolved to the local governments to provide them greater autonomy in the formulation and implementation of programs which are attuned to the needs of the community.
This struck me as a rather stupid setup. First of all it demonstrated that there was nobody designated as the "second-in-command" to make decisions in the absence of the Head, meaning that no work will actually get done if a decision had to be made. Second I was not informed that the social welfare programs of a local government on a 1st class municipality were a matter of national security and should therefore be guarded jealously. I believe this person imagined this moment as an opportunity to lord her influence over others, that instead of being supportive, chose rather to be combative in order to protect thier little kingdom.
But what would be most disturbig is that what if the local DSWD did not have any programs which support social development? Now that would be another surprise! Another government office with no programs? How could that happen in the Philippines?!
But in the end sometimes I cannot really blame these people, if your work can be summed up in one word: "clerical". This also includes those who've been in that position for years with no hope of advancement or drive to improve. No, indeed I cannot blame them because the world needs mean and incompetent people with no better prospects for the future to ensure that the make the world a more exciting place.
In the start I was angry, now I just feel pity. Sucks to be you.
*The Local Government Code of 1991 was created to allow many functions of the national government such as health, education, social welfare and development, etc, to be devolved to the local governments to provide them greater autonomy in the formulation and implementation of programs which are attuned to the needs of the community.
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