On his first State of the Nation Address, after less than a month in office, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte pronounced, “I will be establishing 8888 dedicated to corruption.”

To further bolster his war against corruption, reduce red tape and expedite transactions in the government, and to further improve the services of the government to the people, the President signed Executive Order (EO) No. 6, s. 2016 entitled “Institutionalizing the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Hotline and Establishing Citizens’ Complaint Center.”

EO No. 6, s. 2016 mandates that the 8888 Center shall be equipped with the following communication channels to receive complaints and grievances on acts of red tape and corruption:

a. 8888 Hotline

b. Short Message Service (SMS) / Text Access

c. Electronic Mail (e-mail)

d. Website / Webpage

e. Social Media, as well as any other emerging communication medium.

Its basic function is to accept calls from clients reporting complaints against a government department, agency, bureau, LGY, GOCC, or even government employees. Calls relative to emergency, public health, and peace and order may also get through the platform but shall be directed to the concerned agencies covering such assistance.