SIMPLE LIVING

ARTICLE XI, of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states,

Accountability of Public Officers, 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.

This principle under our constitution for public officials was written
into law under Republic Act No. 6713 otherwise known as "Code of
Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and
Employees."

Specifically, under Sec. 4, par. h of the said law provides:

(h) Simple living. - Public officials and employees and their families
shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income.
They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of
wealth in any form.

Simple living may not be a fancy dissertation on bureaucratic

reforms, but it goes to the heart of the matter. If public officials lived
simply, refused a life of grandeur, these will result to avoiding the
temptation of corruption.

Civil service necessitates passion, it is not a means for glorification.

Public servants work for government and for its citizens. They
are elected to develop and deliver public programs or services, and
not to take advantage of their positions to improve their way of
living. Personal improvements must only come as a side-effect of
their position and not their main purpose.

It's more than doing a job. A career in the public service is for
anyone who wants to make a difference. It means putting public
interests first – ahead of personal interests. Many public servants
say they chose public service because they enjoy giving back to
their community.
Most importantly, Public servants are expected to do the right
thing – even when it’s not easy. They uphold the highest
professional and ethical standards because they understand the
high expectations the public has for their work.

As public servants, public officers swear an oath as part of the

Oath, public servants swear not just to do their job but to:

 Serve ethically and with integrity, loyalty, impartiality, and

objectivity

 Put the interests of the public and the public service ahead of
their own personal interests

 Maintain and enhance the public’s trust and confidence in the

public service

These commitments make sure that the public officer’s actions are
impartial, objective and beyond reproach.

Embracing Servant Leadership

The concept of servant leadership has endured for centuries.

However, Robert K. Greenleaf coined the term “servant leader” in
1970 when he published his essay “The Servant as Leader.”
Greenleaf wrote that the servant leader feels a sense of duty to
lead. This stands in sharp contrast to traditional leadership, where
someone may assume a leadership position purely out of a desire
for privilege or power. Servant leaders understand that they intend
to serve others. Public servants can embrace the following qualities
of servant leadership:

 Being mindful of and caring for the underprivileged in society.

 Prioritizing the growth and well-being of individuals and their
communities.
 Displaying awareness, empathy and foresight.

It is important to note that servant leadership can exist at all levels

of an organization. Some public service involves working directly
with the people living in communities, while others may solely work
with their teams in the organization. In both settings, public
servants can embrace the principles of servant leadership.

Finally, Leading by Example

Public servants are often expected to be inspirational individuals

who motivate their teams or their communities. An inspired team or
community member is more likely to achieve growth. How exactly
can a public servant be inspirational in building community? Some
people have natural charisma, but this is also something that can
be cultivated. One way to inspire others is to lead by example,
such as by demonstrating a careful commitment to ethical conduct.
Someone who leads and places himself or herself in the same
situations as others can inspire others.

REFERENCES:

1987 Philippine Constitution;

Republic Act No. 6713 otherwise known as "Code of Conduct and

Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees."

Characteristics of Effective and Ethical Public Servants (January

13, 2020) (https://www.gcu.edu/blog/criminal-justice-government-
and-public-administration/effective-and-ethical-public-servants);

Living simply, Martin Andanar (February 16, 2017)

(https://opinion.inquirer.net/101717/living-simply#ixzz7wpiWuP7L)
 Characteristic of Ethical Leader

WHAT IS ETHICAL LEADERSHIP?

An ethical leader is one that always makes the decisions they

believe are right—no matter if it's unpopular or inconvenient. To
make the right decision, an ethical leader must have a solid set of
values and attributes to rely on when things get tough. A moral
leader needs to be:

1. FAIR

An ethical leader always symbolize justice. For your team to follow

you and agree with your decisions, they need to know that you
considered all options equally and kept each team member in
mind.

2. HONEST

An ethical leader must always be transparent and fair, no matter

the consequences. Consistent honesty builds trust between a
leader and a team and promotes open conversations on job
performance, personal struggles, and challenges at work.

3. RESPECTFUL

To show respect to your employees or followers, you should

always attentively listen, value their contributions, and not dismiss
their concerns or comments.

4. VALUE-DRIVEN

This ensures that they're comfortable following the organization's

values and rules in all decision-making. Ethical leaders will only
implement policies that adhere to their (and their organization's)
values.

5. ENCOURAGES INITIATIVE

Ethical leaders work tirelessly to make their employees the stars

and motivate their employees to thrive. Ethical leaders encourage
employees to flourish by providing incentives for innovative ideas
and suggestions. They will also inspire their team members to
improve processes, communication, and collaboration.

6. LEADS BY EXAMPLE

Employees and team members will mimic their leader's actions, so

an ethical leader will ensure they're leading by example.

7. FOCUSES ON THEIR TEAM

Ethical leaders will spend time fostering community and team spirit
within their followers. They will also work to help their employees
achieve their goals.

8. KINDNESS

Last but not least, an ethical leader is kind. Employees and team
members are human, not machines. A moral leader understands
this and treats their followers kindly and humanely. When they feel
respected and cherished, they will work harder to achieve company
goals, benefiting all parties involved.

Why is it essential to be an ethical leader?

There are many good reasons to be an ethical leader.

From a collective perspective, leaders can inspire those around

them to behave ethically. By setting an example and giving the
direction for ethical behavior, others will observe and act similarly.
In this way, ethical leaders can positively influence many others,
presenting them with a set of actions that they can adopt for the
greater good.

On a personal level, being an ethical leader is essential for

credibility and reputation. If one aims to be a leader, it is a long
game. Behaving unethically can automatically take a leader out of
the A-league and may heavily damage their personal or company
brand. Moreover, unethical behaviors often deteriorate one's self-
esteem, leading to a suboptimal outcome and a missed opportunity
to express one’s full potential.

In the Public Service these Ethical Standards are embodied under

Republic Act No. 6713 otherwise known as Code of Conduct and
Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees:

Section 4 of the said law provides: Norms of Conduct of Public

Officials and Employees. –

(A) Every public official and employee shall observe the following
as standards of personal conduct in the discharge and execution of
official duties:

(a) Commitment to public interest. - Public officials and employees

shall always uphold the public interest over and above personal
interest.

(b) Professionalism. - Public officials and employees shall perform

and discharge their duties with the highest degree of excellence,
professionalism, intelligence and skill.

(c) Justness and sincerity. - Public officials and employees shall

remain true to the people at all times. They must act with justness
and sincerity and shall not discriminate against anyone, especially
the poor and the underprivileged. They shall at all times respect the
rights of others, and shall refrain from doing acts contrary to law,
good morals, good customs, public policy, public order, public
safety and public interest.
(d) Political neutrality. - Public officials and employees shall provide
service to everyone without unfair discrimination and regardless of
party affiliation or preference.

(e) Responsiveness to the public. - Public officials and employees

shall extend prompt, courteous, and adequate service to the public.
Unless otherwise provided by law or when required by the public
interest, public officials and employees shall provide information of
their policies and procedures in clear and understandable
language, ensure openness of information, public consultations
and hearings whenever appropriate, encourage suggestions,
simplify and systematize policy, rules and procedures, avoid red
tape and develop an understanding and appreciation of the socio-
economic conditions prevailing in the country, especially in the
depressed rural and urban areas.

(f) Nationalism and patriotism. - Public officials and employees

shall at all times be loyal to the Republic and to the Filipino people,
promote the use of locally produced goods, resources and
technology and encourage appreciation and pride of country and
people.

(g) Commitment to democracy. - Public officials and employees

shall commit themselves to the democratic way of life and values,
maintain the principle of public accountability, and manifest by
deeds the supremacy of civilian authority over the military.

(h) Simple living. - Public officials and employees and their families
shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income.
They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of
wealth in any form.

REFERENCES:

Republic Act No. 6713 otherwise known as "Code of Conduct and

Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees."
How to Be an Ethical Leader: 10 Tips for Success, Kiely
Kuligowski, Feb 22, 2023

The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one,

Giulia Villirilli, April 9, 2021