The Office of the Ombudsman is set to revive its resident ombudsman program, assigning on-site representatives to selected government agencies as part of renewed efforts to combat corruption in public service.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the decision follows the results of a survey commissioned by the agency, which indicated that many Filipinos find it difficult to access government services without encountering corrupt practices.
“Respondents were asked how easy it is to access services without having to bribe, influence or engage in any act of corruption. The results were very telling because a majority said it was very difficult. These results, among others, will serve as the basis for the reforms about to be instituted by the Office of the Ombudsman,” Clavano said.
Under the revived initiative, resident ombudsmen will be deployed to agencies identified as particularly susceptible to irregularities. These officials will work on-site to receive complaints and oversee the implementation of anti-corruption programs within their assigned offices.
“The resident ombudsman will be visible in the host agencies and will be rotated so as not to breed any familiarity and maintain professionalism,” Clavano said.
The program also aims to strengthen coordination with the Anti-Red Tape Authority and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to improve service delivery and public accessibility.
Clavano said the final list of agencies is still being completed but identified several offices expected to be included.
“We are finalizing the list of agencies where we would assign resident ombudsmen but offhand, the sure ones are the Bureau of Customs, BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways),” he said.
The revival of the program signals the Ombudsman’s push to address systemic vulnerabilities in frontline agencies and restore public confidence in government transactions.