Case Study #3

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

Do you agree with Glenda? Why?
Is whistle blowing to the media acceptable as whistle blowing to an elected national official?
When it comes to environmental issues, it shouldn’t be something that must be taken
lightly. The environment has a huge impact on our daily lives. We get the food that we eat
from the environment; we get the water that we drink from the environment. If we are the
careless and uninformed humans that we want to be perceived, then we are doomed to
suffer the inevitable consequences of our actions.
In every problem, I believe that there really is a solution. A solution may not be that
simple to achieve but through discussion and careful deliberation, a just action might just be
conceived. In light of the given situation, it would be really difficult to go against the decision
of your higher-ups. Your judgment and actions will be questioned and your loyalty to them
will be put at stake. But if we look deeper into it, it is the mandate of the government to
protect the people and the environment. If that is not realized, then the very essence of
working in the government would become useless and futile. Whistle-blowing is an act of
informing higher authorities about illegal or unethical practices observed. While some
people might consider this as a noble act, it might jeopardize someone’s work and worse,
someone’s life. In the case of Glenda, she might lose her job if she exposes the things that
she discovered within her agency. She was just given a quickie consultant report and that
might not constitute the whole report that was done. Without proper evidence, her
accusations will just be dismissed and she will be wrongfully attacked. If she talks to the
Senator, the issue might just be used by the politician for their own personal interest and
advantage. A possible solution to the problem of Glenda would be to talk to the person who
is in a higher position after her Division Chief. The problem should be discussed internally
so that proper actions and measures may be taken. If there really is a problem, the
management/office should really look into it and devise a way to solve the problem.
Another possible solution to the problem of Glenda would be to go directly to DENR since it
is the agency that overlooks projects with regards to the environment.
Whistleblowing is a right to free speech, especially when it comes to exposing graft
and corruption and fraudulent activities in the government. It might disrupt the harmonious
relationship of employees within the agency but if it is for the greater good, then
whistleblowing shouldn’t be a bad thing at all. Policies and guidelines regarding
whistleblowing must be implemented so as to check the proper implementation of the rules
and laws of the government. After all, it is our right to expose the wrongdoings in the
government. If all of us would just be silent and be blind despite the wrong actions of those
in the government, then we will not progress as a unified nation. Those in authority must
always realize that they do not hold all the power. They must be held accountable of their
malicious and dishonest behavior.