EDITORIAL: Accountable Governance

THE proposal to impose a “no work, no pay” policy on high-ranking government officials is not only timely — it is long overdue.

For decades, ordinary government employees have been subjected to strict attendance rules, salary deductions, and administrative sanctions whenever they fail to report for work without approved leave.

Yet many elected and appointed officials continue to receive salaries and allowances even after prolonged absences from public duty. This glaring double standard weakens public trust in government and undermines the very principle of accountability in public service.

Senator Erwin Tulfo’s proposal seeks to correct this imbalance by applying the same rules to senators, congressmen, Cabinet secretaries, department heads, and even the highest officials in the land.

The principle is simple: if ordinary public servants are bound by “no work, no pay,” then high-ranking officials should not be exempted. Public office should never become a shield against responsibility.

The controversy surrounding Senator Bato Dela Rosa’s reported six-month absence from the Senate highlights why such a measure is necessary. Whether or not he personally collected his salary during his absence, the issue raises an important question: should public officials continue receiving compensation when they are unable or unwilling to perform their duties?

Public funds come from taxpayers, and every peso spent on salaries must correspond to actual public service rendered.

In contrast, Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s decision to voluntarily forgo his salary while unable to attend Senate hearings demonstrated an important Filipino value that many public officials seem to have forgotten — delicadeza.

Delicadeza is not merely about following the law; it is about possessing moral sensitivity, shame, and a sense of honor. It is the willingness to do what is right even when no one is forcing you to do so.

A true public servant must possess integrity, accountability, humility, and delicadeza. Public office is a public trust, not a privilege that guarantees compensation regardless of performance. Officials are expected to serve as examples to the people, especially to ordinary government workers who diligently report to work every day despite modest salaries and difficult conditions.

Teachers, clerks, nurses, utility workers, and countless other public servants immediately suffer salary deductions for unauthorized absences. Why then should lawmakers and powerful officials enjoy exemptions unavailable to ordinary workers? Equality before the law should not disappear once a person acquires power or position.

Beyond the “no work, no pay” policy, the government should also consider imposing stiffer penalties on elective public officials who deliberately abandon their duties because of corruption charges, criminal cases, or attempts to evade accountability.

Public officials are elected to serve the people, not to disappear from office while continuing to enjoy salaries, privileges, and political power. When an official refuses to report for work, hides from authorities, or becomes unable to perform official functions due to criminal allegations, the public suffers from lack of representation and disrupted government service.

Ordinary government employees immediately face suspension, salary deductions, administrative sanctions, or even dismissal for prolonged unauthorized absences. Therefore, elective officials should be held to an even higher standard because they occupy positions of public trust and authority.

Possible penalties may include:

• Automatic suspension of salary and allowances after prolonged unauthorized absence;

  
  

• Forfeiture of certain privileges and discretionary funds;

  
  

• Mandatory disclosure of attendance and official activities to the public;

  
  

• Administrative sanctions for abandonment of office;

  
  

• Possible disqualification from re-election or future public office if proven guilty of corruption or grave misconduct.

Most importantly, public officials must possess delicadeza — the moral decency to voluntarily step aside or refuse compensation when they can no longer properly perform their duties. Leadership is not only about legal authority but also about integrity, accountability, and respect for taxpayers’ money.

The proposed measure is not about punishment or political targeting. It is about fairness, accountability, and restoring public confidence in government institutions. If officials truly believe they are servants of the people, then they must be willing to follow the same standards imposed on the citizens and employees they govern.

At a time when many Filipinos struggle with rising costs of living and economic uncertainty, every centavo of public money must be used responsibly. Government leaders must demonstrate that public service is earned through actual work and commitment — not guaranteed by title alone.

The principle is clear and should no longer be debated: no work, no pay must apply to everyone, especially those who hold the highest positions in government.