THE DEPARTMENT of Education, through the Public Affairs Service-Public Assistance Action Center, led the 2022 National Seminar and Planning Workshop of the agency’s public assistance coordinators to strengthen their delivery of public services.

In his keynote message, DepEd Undersecretary Epimaco Densing 3rd called for effective and efficient public assistance delivery among DepEd personnel, particularly PACs.

“All of us must be onboard to be able to hear the cries of the public, to hear the complaints of our fellow Filipinos, address them, verify them. If it’s true, let’s address them right away, as fast as we can, as effective as we can. Because that’s the only way for us to say that government is working for and on behalf of the people, that government’s work is felt by the people,” Densing said.

He emphasized the intent to localize the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Hotline for a faster and more efficient way of addressing concerns and issues in lieu of Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Law, which also created the Anti-Red Tape Authority.

Meanwhile, DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa commended PACs for being on the frontline.

“Kayo ang ating frontline. Lahat po ng hinaing, lahat po ng mga problema, kayo po talaga ‘yung sumasalo at unang dumudunog pagdating sa field. At talaga pong na-a-appreciate natin lahat ng efforts niyo. Under the administration of the Vice President and Secretary of Education, alam niyo naman na ang gusto natin ay aksyon agad po talaga tayo,” Poa said.

“That’s why napaka-importante po ng ating frontline, napaka-importante po ng ginagawa niyo sa araw-araw para po matulungan natin ang ating stakeholders, ang ating mga learners, pati na rin po ang ating guro, and of course, the general public,” he added.