It has been a common label that some people working as public servants are not competent and that the government cannot be trusted. This idea doesn’t only apply in the Philippines. It is a universal thought process from generation after generation.

In the Philippines, some of the common thoughts about the government are incompetency, turtle-slow processes and graft and corruption. Yet some people, both outside and inside the system, are still trying hard to mitigate, if not eliminate, these untoward practices.

This is why the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office III conducted Technical Sharing on Values Orientation. On 23 August 2018, the topic on Values as guiding principles in public service was discussed by Ms. Melba V. Vinluan and Ms. Jacqueline C. Bautista, Values Restoration Officers of DSWD FO III. Vinluan shared the quote: “Values are the roots, they are the ones we cannot see.” According to her, values are what we are made of. It is likely that we will think, decide and act in accordance with our values.

Ideally, our four shared values are Patriotism, Integrity, Excellence and Spirituality. Bautista, being one of the resource speakers during the said activity, said that we are working on to renew these values among the members of the agency until such time that these values become our Virtues translated and communicated into Ethical Acts as evidenced by Good Manners and Right Conduct. This on-going, never-ending process, eventually leads to Good Governance.

We have different values, but once you entered public service, be sure to flex your heart, internalize and live with the shared values servant leaders should have.