Domingo, Ma. Stephanie Ann P.

Administrative Law, Election Law,

and Law on Public Offers
2011000727

In relation to the fourth principle given, implementation is always the stage wherein we,
the people, can experience the law, on how it should be carried out and for what ends was it
created. Before the implementation should become effective, those who would implement the
same should be well informed and educated as to what the law wants and how it should be
carried out. Our government is structured in a way where the legislative body creates a law or a
program and a different body – a department or bureau which is specifically created for a
specific purpose, carries it out. That a specific body or bureau is given a specific task which
subjects a specific group of people, they are the ones who carries out or implements these laws
and programs for the people, their task is the crucial part of governance for this is where people
can finally judge whether the government is effectively working on the issues that our country
faces today. These departments or bureaus are the ones who have supervision over matters and
issues relating to their functions or to their creation, which can be found in the charter creating
them or the law that delegates such power to them, they act as agents of the government, they
were created by congress, answer to the executive and the can be punished by the judicial
department. They carry these legislations out by creating their own implementing rules and
regulations, in the case of Lokin v. COMELEC 1, the Supreme Court stated that “the function of
promulgating IRRs may be legitimately exercised only for the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of a law. The power of administrative agencies is confined to implementing the law or
putting it into effect.”

In order to carry these laws out properly, the public officer and his or her employees must
be educated and trained. They should be mindful of the purpose of such law find a way to
implement the same effectively and efficiently, these takes time that is why it is the government
that have the power to choose the people that will be given the task to carry them out, the
President has the power to appoint a person that would lead these bureaus, with the best interest
of people in mind, in carrying out the laws created – with the Supreme Court checking if they are
doing their tasks accordingly. Aside from being educated and trained, they must also be
constantly reminded of their purpose and accountability to the people that they are serving which
is embodied in Section 1, Article XI of the Philippine Constitution which states that:

Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at
all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility,
integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead
modest lives.2

In creating the Implementing Rules and Regulation of a certain law, it should be a perfect
blend of the mandate of the law and the rights of the people, one cannot be compromised or
diminished, these laws are created for the people and the people should benefit the most out of
these laws. The powers given by these laws to the enforcers should not be abused and used for

1
Lokin, Jr. vs. Commission on Elections, 621 SCRA 385, G.R. Nos. 179431-32 June 22, 2010.
2
Article XI, Section 1, The 1987 Philippine Constitution.
their own gain and at the expense of the people. Dura Lex Sed Lex, the law may be harsh but it is
the law and Salus Populi Est Suprema Lex, the welfare of the people is the supreme law.

In doing so, the people behind the creation of these rules should be well educated when it
comes to the situation of the people, the law and theories that can be of help in finding away in
creating that perfect blend. These offices must tighten their requirements for employing these
people, they must have the proper credentials and education to get the job done. Furthermore,
their salary must also be reasonable, their job is one of a kind. We may not have the power to
appoint these commissioners but we have the power to choose the people that have the power to
take away such delegation.

I suggest that Congress must change the charter of bureaus and add requirements as to
who can be commissioners, their educational background and experience should be given weight
before giving such appointments. Further, the bureaus who are hiring employees should also do
the same, passing the civil service exams should not be the only requirement in becoming a
government employee, they serve the people and not the government. Again, their educational
background and experience should also be checked, not just the person they knew that is already
working in the said department. Moreover, the government should allocate funds for sending few
employees of these bureaus to seminars and classes that would continue educating them about
the current situation and other issues relating to what their bureau is facing. Continued education
is key to our ever changing situation, the government should have proactive ways in finding
solutions to our problems for indeed, change is the only constant thing in this world.

Aside from that, the bureau or department should also continuously inform the people
about the issues that their respective department or bureau is facing, so that people would be
prepared and that they would properly understand the purpose of the law and would see if there
are any anomalies in carrying out the same.

As the famous saying goes: “Action speaks louder than words”, the way that these
bureaus and departments carry out or act on these laws are much louder than the words of the
law itself. This the way the government act on its laws. They must always put the people first for
they are created for the people and by the people.