Ateneo School of Government Dean calls for accountability with integrity at CSC’s 125th Anniversary Celebration

In a powerful message delivered during the 2025 Leaders and HR Symposium (LHRS) of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) held from 24 to 25 September 2025 at SMX Clarkfield, Pampanga, Dr Jennifer S Oreta, Dean of Ateneo School of Government, underscored the urgent need to restore trust in government institutions through accountability anchored in integrity, transparency, and service to the Filipino people.

Marking the 125th anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service, the two-day symposium themed “LEAD 125: Shaping the Future Together” gathered government officials, leaders, and HR practitioners from across the Philippines and the ASEAN region to discuss key developments in Leadership, Strategic HR, and Organizational Development. This milestone event celebrated the enduring dedication and transformative contributions of civil servants, while also reflecting on how accountability, ethics, and service remain vital to shaping the future of governance.

Speaking before an audience of around 1,500 participants from both the public sector workforce and private sector partners. Dr Oreta delivered a compelling talk on “Accountability with Integrity: Building Trust through Action and Service to Nation”. She emphasized that accountability must not be treated as a mere bureaucratic requirement but as both a personal and collective responsibility. Dr Oreta explained that “pananagutan” embodies responsibility, discernment, and the courage to own the consequences of one’s decisions, reminding participants that public service requires a broad mindset and a commitment to building trust. “Public office is a public trust. To serve with integrity means owning our actions, embracing responsibility, and building trust through service,” she said.

Dr Oreta further emphasized that true accountability for public officials rests on the recognition of responsibility to the people, the faithful performance of duties, and stewardship of public resources. She acknowledged the many challenges undermining governance in the Philippines, including widening social and spatial divides, eroding ethical standards, the persistence of political dynasties, patronage-driven politics, and the weakening of institutional checks and balances. She also cited Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, where Philippines received a score of 33 out of 100, ranking 114th out of 180 countries, warning that corruption continues to erode the moral fabric of public service and weaken the trust of citizens in democratic institutions.

In closing, Dean Oreta called for impartial and transparent investigations into corruption, the re-imposing of the mandatory Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), the strict penalization of those involved in corrupt practices, stronger transparency in governance through access to information, and the correction of loopholes in laws that enable abuse of power. She reminded participants that building institutions and restoring public trust requires political will and consistent action.

The CSC’s 125th Anniversary celebration showcased not only the commission’s historic legacy but also its enduring mission to strengthen ethics and integrity in government. By bringing together leaders from the public and private sectors, the event reaffirmed the shared responsibility of all Filipinos to nurture an accountable, ethical, and service-driven government for the future.