Do you agree that the use of Facebook must be banned in government offices?

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: What should be done is to limit its usage. After all, it may be helpful in transacting official business and other concerns involving a department.

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: I agree, Facebook should be banned. While it may be useful in connecting with friends and loved ones, it is unethical to get hooked on it during office hours because it paralyzes services.

Why ban Facebook?

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Cabanatuan City: As long as it doesn’t interfere with your work, why ban Facebook. This proposed ban presumes that all Facebook users are morons. Unlike others who send meaningless messages and greetings, I use Facebook to share my Inbox world views and other written works with friends.

Lucas Banzon Madamba, USA: Facebook must not be banned in government offices because it is an effective way of communicating, of reaching out to help others and of being up-to-date with current events and trends in society and technology. The whole point lies on how government employees use Facebook in their daily lives. I’m sure that if government employees are using Facebook, it is only during their break time and they do not let their work suffer.

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: What for, when 90 per cent of FB users put false information in their FB accounts anyway. All my kids maintain FB accounts for fun. Like SALNs, no government employee is stupid enough to put factual data in accessible info bases. My daughter made her FB private, available only to her close friends. Why not just let these government employees enjoy their FBs?

Employees are motivated

Edwin Chinel Monares, Rizal: Facebook is an effective social networking and advocacy web. The ban on the use of Facebook in government offices should not be done completely because many offices in government may need it to push their advocacy, promote transparency and exact accountability. This is also the link of everyone to the whole world which could somehow be of help in keeping the motivation of the employees to work - they are in close contact with their loved ones. I think a clear system of regulation would do to stop abuse and neglect of actual work.

PNP’s tool

Noel Navales, Metro Manila: It really depends on how it’s used. I don’t think it should be banned totally. The Philippine National Police has been using Facebook to track down fugitives and have been getting positive results. It can also facilitate public feedback if an agency needs it.

Not in sync

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: Of course, government work and Facebooking are things you just can’t do together.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: An overwhelming yes, most internet-savvy users are so preoccupied with that Facebook stuff that it has begun to affect their lives as well as their work. There was even a cover story of Time magazine on Facebook last May and it revealed the many users who have been addicted to it. Facebook should only be used for personal matters.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: The danger of the use of Facebook in government officers is that employees may spend their time doing social networking, forgetting about their job. But knowing the laxity in government offices, this is passé.

Roger Caravana, Bulacan: I do believe that the use of Facebook must be banned in government offices for the simple reason that the employees will be using the government time.

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: It should be banned in all government offices. Facebook is a social networking activity that should be done outside government offices.

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Government employees should not be allowed to surf social networks like Facebook and Twitter unless it is part of their job like the official MMDA site that reports on traffic condition.

Form of cheating, stealing

Felix Ramento, USA: Yes, the office is not the place to open Facebook since it’s one form of cheating. It is simply disgusting to observe people doing it surreptitiously.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: I agree with Cong. Quimbo to ban face booking in government offices. This is for Facebookers who ruin or disrupt their work by logging in to the social networking site. They can Facebook after office hours, somewhere else.

Rolly Palado, Pasig City:  I totally agree on the restriction of Facebook access in all government offices. Computers are tools used in the performance of duties by the employees and not to as an avenue to access anything outside their work.  To do otherwise is a waste of time and is tantamount to stealing.  Stealing in the sense that they don’t render the necessary working hours expected and paid for by their employers. 

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: With Facebook, employees will use much of their office hours in communicating with relatives and acquaintances at the expense of the government.

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: Yes, it should be banned for many working hours will go to waste if employees get addicted to Facebook.

Quite addictive

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Yes, I agree. Some employees, instead of concentrating on their respective work, prefer to use Facebook not only during break time but also during office hours.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Yes, because Facebook and other Internet sites are addicting. It consumes so much government time and money.

Thomas Sumbad, Metro Manila: Facebook is too addictive to be allowed in government offices. It would only foster idleness, so no FB please.

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: Facebook must be banned in government offices because government officials and employees might consume their time in chatting and entertainment.

Ana Igloria, Laguna: To enter the Facebook world is to enter at your own risk. First, you get spied once you upload private photos. Second, you reveal your personality through your words once you start writing comments and posting on walls. Third, you waste your money and time once you use it without discipline. Fourth, your efficiency towards work is weakened once you open it during office hours (government or private). The whole wide world sees what you do on Facebook. If used in government offices, true public service is never attained. It is very appropriate to ban Facebook so that government employees can serve their clients on time and not make them wait in long lines.

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Its use is prone to abuse and since it is also addictive, it must be banned. Government workers have better things to do than use Facebook.

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: Yes, I agree, social networking on Facebook is 90 percent gossip about entertainment matters, something which should not be done during office hours.

Form of corruption

Ronil Victorio, Metro Manila: Yes, I agree with the proposed ban on the use of Facebook in government offices.  

Louella Brown, Baguio City: Of course, I agree that the use of Facebook must be banned in government offices. It is also a form of corruption. Even in the private sector, employees who are Facebook users are in effect spending company time and money.

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Yes, because using government property for personal matters is a form of graft and irregularity. It may sound pathetic but it’s good governance.

Anne Marie De Chavez, Las Piñas City: Facebook should be for personal use only whether in government or private offices, unless the job requires it. Employees/workers will not be able to focus on their jobs.

Cost-cutting measure

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Yes, the use of Facebook, Twitter and computer games must be banned not only in government but also in private offices at all times to save energy.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: If our government offices were using Facebook for their ulterior motives, no ifs and buts, implement the ban. If the employees insist on using FB, then terminate their services.

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Yes, to lessen the wasteful use of government time.

Up to gov’t agency

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: It’s up to the particular government office to monitor the use of its computers by its employees. If the agency cannot do without Facebook in its day-to-day business, then there is no reason to have it banned. But if it hampers the delivery of services to the people, it should be scrapped.

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: In many private companies or institutions, employees are refrained from using telephones for personal calls and computers on matters that are not related to company interest. This regulation can also be enforced in government offices restrict the use of computers for official business, though not necessarily banning Facebook because it may also provide vital information about government and private institutions.

Modifications needed

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: The purpose of banning Facebook in government offices is to regulate the use of computers that increases the electric consumption of the agency and adversely affects the productivity of employees. But the ban needs some modifications though because Facebook is not only for social networking but is also helpful in the dissemination of information by government offices and private institutions. Also, there is already a regulation that government properties are for official use only, hence no need to enact a law for the same purpose.

Convincing argument

Elmo Cruz, Manila: The author of the bill banning Facebook in government offices must have observed that many government employees are spending most of their time in the online social networking site during office hours. Such practice is detrimental to the government in terms of electrical usage and office hours being spent on personal matters. The author has a very noble intention in filing the bill, but the problem is there are so many social networking sites available online. He has to present a more convincing argument that his bill is necessary.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: How sure are the authorities that the ban will be followed? The employees may still find time to Facebook because most of them are already addicted to the site.I am for the ban but definitely, it is very difficult to enforce, malulusutan pa rin yan.

May not be the solution

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: Banning Facebook in government operations may not be the solution to some employees’ abuse of Internet use. Many government and private employees all over the world are known to lack discipline with regard to computer use during their working time. With this, a daily and or weekly reminder on the proper use of computers posted in bulletin boards may be more effective, plus a reward semi-annually for employees who don’t abuse Internet use.

Richard Decena, Quezon City: Hindi lang po Facebook ang dapat i-ban. Dapat palitan din ang kawani na mahuhuling nagbubulakbol. Makakatulong pa sa mga naghahanap ng trabaho.

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: For as long as there are available computers, the ban on the use of Facebook is next to impossible. Take away those computers and that’s it.

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: Facebook is addicting to computer literates. But Facebook is not the reason why employees in government offices use the Internet.

June Deoferio, Cavite City: I don’t agree with the proposed ban because at times, there will be a need to trace, locate, and update file or verify some information with a person who is on Facebook.

Pedro Alagano Sr.,Vigan City:  It should be for official use only, as FB has become an important tool of policemen in identifying and tracking down criminals. A simple memorandum to all concerned employees may be enough to address the issue.

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Nasa kahihiyan na lang yan ng empleyado, lalo na kapag nasa gobyerno ka. Haba ng pila eh nakikita ng publiko na nag fe-Facebook ka.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Be it in government offices or in private institutions, FB, like any new thing, will only be hot for sometime. Nothing to be worried about.

Exception to the rule

Artemio Masbate III, Cebu: There should be an exception, because some offices are using sites like Facebook for better service. Like LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) Region VII. It has an account on Facebook and the people are posting their grievances here.

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: Facebook should not be banned in government provided its use is not for personal concerns only but more importantly for government transactions.

Lincoln Alagad, Parañaque City: I think banning it is too harsh like denying an innocent toddler an ice cream.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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