By Ben Contreras THE Civil Service Commission is celebrating its 115th anniversary this month. In a meeting with media people at VIP Hotel, a coterie of government agency heads were there to answer questions. The dignitaries who were there were Atty. Edwin Alo of SSS who was promoted to a higher position two years or so ago, Marlon Niño Arrabaca of Philhealth, Simeon Gorra of LTO, Ma. Cecilia Vega of GSIS, Ferdinand Saniel of Pag-ibig, Vergie Gayla of the Philippine Statistics Authority, Thelma Oliver of PIA, and our host Naome Rabe Torres of CSC. This month’s celebration focuses on “Kayang Kaya Mo, Lingkod Bayani.” The bottom line is to give the best service people can get and eliminate red tape. Practically all of them claimed to have initiated certain programs of transacting business with their respective offices. But the fact still remains that in government, agencies like the SSS, NBI, NSO (I can’t speak for those I have no business with) or even the DFA before, people have to line up as early as possible in order to get a priority number. But even a priority number does not guarantee that your transaction can be done in a day’s time. This situation breeds fixers, and with fixers, there’s corruption. How many millions have been spent on various programs aimed to eliminate red tape or corruption? How many programs have already been initiated purportedly for the elimination of red tape? From one administration to another, we’ve heard of promises that remain just that, promises. I am not saying all failed but only a few made headway. In general, it’s still wanting. Red tape cannot be eliminated if government continues to do business by requiring the people to go through a long process of requirements in order to transact business. I’ve been there. The procedures are not only made difficult, the signatories are also aplenty. I know there is such a law that requires government agencies to respond to a request within a certain number of days. But this is hardly practiced in all government offices and agencies. Some government employees still practice the “no pay, no movement” of papers. I know because I’ve been there. Still, I appreciate the initiatives of the dignitaries to introduce innovative reforms in their respective offices. The CSC is there to watch and monitor how the others function. I hope in their 116th anniversary, the CSC and the invitees will be presenting and reporting actual positive results than just another program to be implemented. •• During a “tipon-tipon” among businessmen, one commented that in the history of our city, only Mayor Oscar Moreno engaged the services of an outsider to become our city treasurer. Come to think of it, it’s true, right? But Glenn Bañez is no ordinary person. He has a doctorate, they said. But even then, why would Bañez claim that he was sent by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte to help Moreno? Isn’t it meddling in the affairs of the city government of Cagayan de Oro by Belmonte? Is Bañez here on a mission for Belmonte or LP, perhaps?