Mayor Celso Lobregat has exhorted city government employees to put to heart the oath that they pledged to fulfill when they first join the civil service system.

“I challenge each and every one of you to continue serving the public with utmost sincerity, integrity and efficiency. A lot of things have yet to be done, poreso continua kita esta unido y continua kita el maga buen esfuerzo para el bien del di aton ciudad de Zamboanga!”, the mayor said in his message during the flag raising ceremony yesterday marking the 110th anniversary of the civil service system in the country.

This year’s anniversary of the civil service system is themed “Responsive, Accessible, Courteous and Effective (RACE) Public Service”. It was in 1900 when the Civil Service Commission was constituted by the legislature to regulate the employment and working conditions of civil servants, oversee hiring and promotions, and most importantly promote the values of public service.

Mayor Lobregat said the anniversary’s theme puts all civil servants in a RACE to serve the public. “We are expected to be RESPONSIVE to the needs of our people, giving them what they need and not what we think they need the soonest time possible. We must be ACCESSIBLE and willing to help. After all, they are our boss as President Benigno Aquino III said in his inaugural address. We must serve and treat them with respect, always COURTEOUS in the delivery of services regardless of their circumstances. Most importantly, we must strive for EFFECTIVENESS and excellence. While we are allowed mistakes as humans, as public servants we must never settle for mediocrity”.

The program marking the 110th anniversary of civil service kicked off with a prayer and the singing of the Pambansang Awit. It was highlighted by taped voice messages of President Noynoy Aquino and Civil Service Commission chairman Francisco Duque III.

Mayor Lobregat emphasized that the city government has attained unparalleled feats in the implementation of projects and programs for the welfare of our constituents because of the support, cooperation and united vision of the over 2,000 city government employees.

“As we observe the 110th year of civil service in the Philippines, I urge every city employee to provide public service which is more responsive, accessible, courteous and effective. Let us put to heart our oath – el Juramento de un Empleado de Govierno – and I urge you to make good on that oath to serve the people with integrity and dignity. Como firme kita ta abla, servi lampas na ora si necesita”, the mayor added.