CSC: LTFRB to decide on case vs employee caught selling franchise

MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is leaving it up to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to file a complaint against an employee caught on video selling a franchise for P700,000.

CSC Commissioner Aileen Lizada said on Friday that the CSC Regional Director will notify the LTFRB office CAR about the issue. The agency will then file the case against the erring employee.

“We have notified the CSC Regional Office about the employee, and then our CSC Regional Director will now officially inform the other offices involved,” Lizada said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.

However, she warned that if the LTFRB office does not act on the concern, they will be forced to reprimand the heads of the agencies.

“But if they will not act, we file cases against the heads of the agencies. Kasi sila dapat ang magdisipilina sa kanilang (Because they should enforce discipline within their) ranks. We will give them that opportunity,” Lizada said.

In a video sent to reporters on Friday, a male LTFRB public assistance desk officer was seen attending to queries regarding the availability of franchises. According to the LTFRB employee, application for franchises is currently closed. But when the person insisted with his request for a franchise checklist, the civil servant made the offer.

Lizada said the employee is still unaware that he was recorded on video.

The employee’s action goes against an LTFRB memorandum in 2016, which made it clear that a franchise application does not require any fee, except for admin cost. Lizada, a former board member of the LTFRB, said expenses for franchise applications should only cost around P520.

“P510 ang admin cost, plus P10 ang research fee. The franchise has no amount,” she clarified.

In the memorandum, LTFRB offices nationwide were also instructed to place signages to inform people that collecting franchise payment is not allowed.

A CSC team led by Lizada has been making the rounds of government offices to check on the efficiency of various national and local agencies. Recent surprise inspections have led to the reprimand of civil servants who were caught loafing, not wearing identification cards, or playing mobile games during work hours.  /ee