A neophyte lawmaker has admitted that he was overwhelmed by the complexities and intricacies of the problems of governance.
At a flag raising ceremony of the House of Representatives hosted by the Legislative Information Resources Management Department, Quezon City Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde also cited the “unwavering dedication and commitment” of government workers.
“I realized that problems and issues confronting our nation were not that simple.
He emphasized that while it was quite easy for outsiders to comment on national issues, “crafting viable solutions requires collaboration, expertise, and an understanding of the complexities involved.”
Atayde expressed his appreciation for the workforce of Congress, saying it was his “first time speaking to the staff and employees of the House.”
“I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for welcoming me—a first-time public servant, a rookie legislator—with open arms,” he added.
“Our bureaucracy, in truth, is a machine with many moving parts, governed by many laws. The Filipino civil servant often has to deal with a myriad of problems with limited resources. Kalimitan kailangan mag-overtime ang government employee, nang walang dagdag na bayad, para lang magawa ang trabaho nya,” Atayde said.
Atayde emphasized the importance of continuous improvement, collaboration, and competence in public service.
“It’s not enough to want to do good; we have to know how to mobilize our resources, particularly our human resources, in order to address our constituents’ concerns. We representatives need the help of our staff here in Congress, and the assistance of our staff in our district offices, as well as the personnel of so many other government offices, to be able to better help the people we represent,” he said.