Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 6)
The purpose of Executive Order No. 06 is to institutionalize the 8888 Citizens' Complaint Hotline and establish the 8888 Citizens' Complaint Center as a mechanism for citizens to report complaints related to red tape, corruption, and other grievances against national government agencies, GOCCs, GFIs, and other government instrumentalities.
The 8888 Citizens' Complaint Center is placed under the direction and supervision of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS).
The order is based on Article II, Section 27 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which mandates honesty and integrity in public service, Republic Act No. 9485 (Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007), and Article VII, Section 17 of the Constitution which grants the President power to ensure laws are faithfully executed.
The Center covers national government agencies, government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), government financial institutions (GFIs), and other government instrumentalities.
The minimum operating standards include multiple communication channels (telephone hotline, SMS, email, website, social media), 24/7 operation excluding holidays and work suspensions, immediate referral of complaints to concerned agencies, feedback to complainants when possible, and resolution within 72 hours.
Government agencies must take concrete and specific action within seventy-two (72) hours from receipt of the concern.
Failure to timely respond or any violation of the Order are grounds for administrative sanctions under existing laws and regulations, without prejudice to appropriate criminal liability.
Other government agencies are directed to cooperate with the OCS, designate focal and technical officers, and ensure prompt action on complaints received through the Center.
Initial funding requirements are determined by the Department of Budget and Management, with succeeding years’ appropriations included in the budget proposals of the OCS and other concerned agencies.
The OCS, in coordination with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP), is to collaborate with other government agencies to interconnect and integrate existing public feedback mechanisms such as the Contact Center ng Bayan (CCB) Project.
A concern received is immediately referred to the appropriate government agency for action. The complainant is given advice or feedback on the status of the concern until resolution is achieved as far as circumstances permit.
The Executive Order takes effect upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
If any provision is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain valid and subsisting due to the separability clause.
The Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS) must submit a report within six months from effectivity and quarterly reports thereafter to the President through the OSAP.