Selflessness in Service

​by: Atty. Carolina Lim-Gamban

Selflessness is a character that each public official and employee must possess, for without it, the essence of public service is lost. No other than the Philippine Constitution mandates that public officers and employees must, at all times, serve the people with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency. For a civil servant to do this, he or she must possess a high standard of ethics, upholding the public interest over and above personal interest. The demand for this high standard will only be met if one observes selflessness. 

Taking the extra mile to ensure the resources are used efficiently, effectively, honestly, and economically to avoid wastage in public funds is a form of selflessness. Although funds that will be used for procurement are not personally ours, being a good steward would allow us to spend every centavo wisely, for these funds came from the collective effort of the Filipino people, and it is prudent to put the money in its appropriate use. Those in the bids and awards committee have the privilege to protect our money from going to waste by scrutinizing the purchases to ensure that although the price is low, good product quality is still assured. Possessing and performing with a high degree of excellence, professionalism, and skill in our work is another form of selflessness. We capacitate ourselves, not just for the sake of it, but to improve the quality of the system and our services rendered to the people. Performing our work with justness and sincerity by bringing the best service to the people, especially the poor and underprivileged, is another form of selflessness. This is seen by not allowing our position to be abused by anyone or even dispensing or extending undue favors to our family, relatives, and friends, as we are sincere in fulfilling our oath as a lingkod-bayan. Extending our efforts to streamline and simplify the process so the public can easily avail and understand the procedure is another form of selflessness. Some civil servants even extend work beyond the hours required without additional compensation to deliver the service and address the needs of the public. This too, is another form of selflessness. 

The examples may go on and on, and you may add more, especially if you are in the public service, by asking yourself, “What have I done so far to show selflessness to others?” You can answer this by simply looking back to the provisions of Republic Act No. 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and do your part by fulfilling the required norms of conduct enumerated in Section 4.

Of course, being a civil servant is not easy; however, selflessness creates a space to love others, thereby enabling us to serve with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency. And what is the best reward when we do this and give our best selflessly? It is to come into the presence of our Creator, hearing His words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come and share your Master’s happiness.”