A couple of days ago, I saw a post on Facebook by someone from a neighboring province offering her services to facilitate the renewal of a permit or license.
Finding somebody who can help me with my concern, I requested for her assistance. She replied that she would take the government test for me so I won’t have to do it. She then showed me pictures of various exams that she had passed.
I was surprised she was seriously doing this as a “business” and immediately advised her to stop what she was into because it is illegal.
Fixers do a disservice to our government by taking advantage of the weakness of our system, a practice that is sadly encouraged by those who patronize their services.
Feeling frustrated, I posted on my Facebook wall a warning about fixers in general, without naming names and offices.
The post generated several comments. One friend told me in a private message that he had an experience last year wherein he just paid P500 (with no receipt), aside from the legal fee, and did nothing else except to wait for the document he applied for, which eventually came out before the end of the day. “I was eaten by the system,” he told me with much regret.
I understand the difficulties experienced by people who are not “techy” or familiar with computers and the different apps.
Online transactions are now the mode to lessen face-to-face interactions because of CoViD-19, and to prevent the temptations of bribery.
Actually, the use of technology is not new anymore because it has been in use for sometime now, especially in offices commonly known for graft and corruption.
The pandemic just hastened the use of online transactions in both public and private institutions.
When I was in government service, we were required to post a warning in our bulletin board: BAWAL ANG FIXERS DITO (Fixers are prohibited here).
A fixer is any individual, whether or not officially involved in the operation of a government agency, who has access to people working there, and whether or not in collusion with them, facilitates speedy completion of transactions for pecuniary gain or any other advantage or consideration.
Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which amended RA 9485 or the Anti Red Tape Law, provides that anyone who offers fixing services, or colludes with fixers, will face one to six years of imprisonment, with a fine of up to P200,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Offending government workers will also be dismissed from the service, disqualified from holding public service perpetually, and denied of retirement benefits.
What does a fixer really do? He/she accomplishes requirements for another party using his/her skills at solving “problems” for others.
The term has different meanings in different contexts. In British usage, the term is neutral, meaning “the sort of person who solves problems and gets things done”.
In journalism, a fixer is a local person who expedites the work of a correspondent who may be working based in a foreign country.
In American usage, to describe a person as a fixer implies that their methods may be of questionable legality. A fixer who disposes of bodies or “cleans up” physical evidence of crime is often more specifically called a cleaner.
In sports, a fixer is someone who makes arrangements (usually, illegal) to manipulate or pre-arrange the outcome of a competition/race.
Fixers believe they can prevent other people from experiencing pain or discomfort. They feel they can change things or people for the better. Often, fixers are kind, compassionate souls who only want to help others.
The lady on that Facebook post explained to me she was “just helping people” who do not have computers or those who do not know how to operate the apps. She did seem to have noble intentions, until she offered to take the exam in her client’s behalf.
But being a fixer is not all about doing bad things. In Italy where I was first assigned as Labor Attache, certain fixing services are done by an entity called Patronato.
The Italian state recognizes the Patronato, which are private organizations working to assist workers and protect their rights in the fields of social security, health, safety at work and industrial accidents, and access to social benefits.
In my second posting in Oman, fixing is allowed by “Public Relations officers” and entities called Sanad Office.
The Sanad Program is a Manpower Ministry initiative with the private sector firms to encourage young Omanis to start their own small businesses in various fields, including the service sector. Sanad offices are spread across the country, and the services are aimed at streamlining procedures, saving time and effort, and encouraging owners how to improve their incomes. Services include processing and submitting visa applications to the Ministry of Manpower, collecting labor cards from the Royal Oman Police, processing visa renewals and cancellations for employees, and handling license applications, for example with free-zone authorities. Sanad offices are also allowed to process the recruitment of local domestic workers for their own nationals.
Fixing the problem of fixers I think can be done by regulating or legalizing fixing services.
Service providers should be registered and regulated, such that the rates of services can be regulated by government, or allowed to compete with each other.
Modern technology can provide solutions to the illegal and dubious means employed by the service providers.
Here in the Philippines, it appears that some government operations are done legally by fixers.
Are brokers not acting as fixers at Customs? Are travel & tour agencies not doing the work of fixers when they apply for passports and other travel documents in behalf of their clients about to travel? Are lawyers, as officers of the court, not fixing the legal problems of the litigants? Are real estate brokers not fixing the public’s property concerns, and consequently dealing with government agencies as part of their package of services?
The Philippine Embassy in Rome just opened an E-Passport Renewal Center run by an agency called BLS International. BLS is a private legal organization accredited by the Embassy to provide services to overseas Filipinos workers for a fee.
Why does it seem like there is no uniformity in the treatment of the public transacting business with government? Why can’t we have Patronatos and Sanads offices in the Philippines especially for the unschooled, the innocent, the poor and underprivileged, and those who cannot afford, technically ignorant or don’t have access to modern technologies?
We can fix the so-called fixers if government is willing to change their perspective about fixers “colluding” with fixers in government.
Let us legalize and regulate the facilitating services of fixers. They are legit service providers.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
