To: Undersecretaries/Assistant Secretaries
Regional Directors
Division Superintendent of Schools
District Supervisors
All Others Concerned

1. In the last two months, I have been regularly conducting a People’s Day every Monday in the DECS Central Office in order to keep an open channel of communications with the general public as well as get a feel, and immediately address, issues and concerns that they may have relative to the educational system. Invariably, most of the problems and issues raised pertain to parents’ and teachers’ complaints against their school officials, requests for scholarships and other forms of educational assistance, salary and retirement benefits that have not been released, etc. which are mostly matters already delegated to field officials for decision. In many instances, the petitioners travel long distances at great personal cost just to get redress for their grievances.
2. It is therefore hereby reiterated that all DECS field officials shall strive to make their offices serve their clientele better by maintaining open communications with the public, making sure that the established grievance mechanism is effectively working, and that concerns of a local nature are effectively and immediately addressed at your level.
3. In addition to the regular mechanisms, it is hereby directed that all DECS Regional Offices, Division Offices and District Offices, as well as large schools (those with more than 100 teachers) shall hold a People’s Day in their respective offices every third Monday of the month, starting in November 1994 from 8:30 -12:00 AM as a special time for hearing the problems and concerns of teachers, parents and the public in general. During this People’s Day, the respective heads of the abovementioned offices shall personally undertake this task.
   It is understood that the holding of the People’s Day shall not disrupt any classes and regular school activities.
4. All regional directors shall closely monitor compliance by their respective field offices of this Order and shall submit a regular brief monthly report not later than the end of each month to this Office, c/o the People’s Day Secretariat.

For the guidance of all concerned.

Reference: DECS Memorandum: No. 287, s. 1994
Allotment: 1-2—(M.O. 1-87)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
OFFICIALS
SCHOOLS