Transparency Report: PH among most corrupt countries

Manila Times, February 2018

The PHILIPPINES is among the most corrupt countries in the world,
ranking 111th out of 180 surveyed in 2017, according to Transparency
International, an anti-graft organization.
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This is based on the data from international organizations like the World
Bank, African Development Bank, and World Economic Forum.
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The Philippines, with a ranking of 111, got a score of 34 in 2017, and 35 in
2016 and 2015, which means there has been no significant improvement in
its anti-corruption drive.
Corruption is traditionally defined as the
“abuse of public office for private
gain.” Transparency international
(TI) interprets corruption as “the
misuse of entrusted power for
private benefit”.
Corruption
 is the single greatest obstacle to economic and social
development (World Bank 2006, cited in Andersson &
Heywood, 2009:747)

 Undermines development because it lowers the ability

of government to enact and implement policies in an
appropriate manner (World Bank, 1997).
 Discourages foreign investment and impedes the
effectiveness of aid (World Bank, 1997).
 Prevents the rule of law, democracy, realization of
human rights and citizen’s access to basic public services.
 Affects the poor disproportionately since it directly
increases the cost of essential public services targeted to
the poor and indirectly reduces the prospect of poverty
alleviation (Iftekharuzzaman, 2005; Todaro & Smith,
2003; World Bank, 1997
According to the 2014 report by Global Financial
Integrity:

1. The Philippines lost about P19.34 trillion to

corruption between 1960 to 2011 on illicit financial flow
done mostly through misinvoicing of trade.
There is a need to fight corruption.

How do we fight corruption?

Promotion of good governance should be
considered as the key strategy to combat
corruption.
One of the campaign promises of then presidential
candidate Rodrigo Duterte was to eradicate corruption in
the country. Following his election, Duterte warned
government officials and employees that he would not
hesitate to fire them, including members of his family, if
he would detect even a “whiff of corruption.”
In an article of the Suntar Philippines (February 23,
2018), Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.
admitted that addressing corruption cannot be done
"overnight" but stressed that the current administration is
exerting efforts to curb any misconduct in government.
Thus, the government is taking the results of
Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index
2017, ranking, seriously.
Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte is fulfilling his
pledge of zero-tolerance policy towards corruption under
his term.
Actions taken by the administration to stamp out
corruption:
•Creating a Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission
•Creating a citizens’ complaint hotline
•The President fired many government officials including
members of the Cabinet, once he heard even a “whiff of
corruption” as shown from these various headline of the
newspaper.
My call today is for us public accountants and officers of
the government, to commit in helping fight corruption by
promoting and entrenching good governance in our
respective offices.
Good governance is a term used to describe how public
institutions conduct public affairs in
manage public resources. The concept
of good governance centers on the
responsibility of governments and
governing bodies to meet the needs of
the masses as opposed to select groups
in society.
The key question to the true test of “good” governance is:

Are the institutions of governance effectively guaranteeing

the right to health, adequate housing, sufficient food,
quality education, fair justice and personal security?
II. Three points on how to promote and
entrench good governance in public office:
A. Strict Compliance with laws and regulations/Uphold the
Rule of Law
B. Promote the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards
for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No.
6713)
C. Be a Person of Integrity and Positively influence other
people/Lead by example
A. Observe Strict Compliance with laws and
Regulations/Uphold the Rule of Law

1. We should willingly impose upon ourselves strict

compliance with laws and regulations, especially with
respect to accounting rules and regulations and laws that
governs disbursements of public funds.
A. Observe Strict Compliance with laws and
Regulations/Uphold the Rule of Law

2. We should be accountable to law that is fairly applied

and enforced; and that the rule of law should apply to all
those involved in the administration and provision of
services in the public interest, as it does to the whole civil
society.
The central principle:
That the rule of law is vital, not only as an
ideal, but as a foundation upon which a
nation and its institutions might be built
and governed.
According to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong :
Upholding the rule of law was what made Singapore
stand out from other developing countries in its early
days of independence, which paved the way for its
progress from Third World to First in 50 years.
Individuals trust that all is equal before the law here,
while businesses know they will get transparent,
rational environment to operate in.
“We say what we mean, and we mean what we say.
Sometimes we are faulted for being rigid and inflexible,
but it is absolutely critical for our words to count and for us
to hold others to what they have undertaken us. So having
a reputation for insisting on these key points is perhaps no
bad thing.”
The Singapore Government through its Ministry of
Communication and Information posted a news online
at www.gov.sg. dated April 1, 2017, which was entitled,
Rule of law a game-changer of Singapore.
A. Observe Strict Compliance with laws and
Regulations/Uphold the Rule of Law

3. We should be bound by the Code of Conduct and

Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees as
provided under Republic Act No. 6713, with appropriate
sanctions for breaches that are enforced consistently and
vigorously.
The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
Officials and Employees, specifically Sections 4 and 5
thereof, provides on how public officials and employees
conducts themselves in the discharge and execution of
official duties.
Section 4.(A) Every public official and employee shall
observe the following as standards of personal conduct in
the discharge and execution of official duties:
(a) Commitment to public interest.
(b) Professionalism.
(c) Justness and sincerity.

(d) Political neutrality.

Section 4.(A) Every public official and employee shall
observe the following as standards of personal conduct in
the discharge and execution of official duties:
(e) Responsiveness to the public.
(f) Nationalism and patriotism.
(g) Commitment to democracy.

(h) Simple living.

Section 5. In the performance of their duties, all public
officials and employees are under obligation to:
(a) Act promptly on letters and requests.
(b) Submit annual performance reports.
(c) Process documents and papers expeditiously.
(d) Act immediately on the public’s personal
transactions.
(e) Make documents accessible to the public.
B. Promote the Code of Conduct and Ethical
Standards for Public Officials and Employees
(Republic Act No. 6713)
The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for
Public Officials and Employees should be:

• Promoted through seminar and training

• Well publicized
C. Be a Person of Integrity and Positively
influence other people/Lead by example

•a. Commit yourself to honesty, reliability, and

confidentiality.
•b. Decide ahead of time that you don’t have a price.
•c. Major in the minor things.
• Come to work regularly on time
• Dress properly and practice good grooming
• Read, write and calculate well
• Finish a job promptly without sacrificing quality
• Concentrate and give utmost care about the quality of your work
• Take the lead and work hard
• Communicate well and get along with other people
• Cooperate willingly
• Be polite and respectful
• Always have positive attitude
The Benefit of Integrity: Trust
1. Model consistency of character
2. Employ honest communication
3. Value transparency
4. Exemplify humility
5. Demonstrate your support for others
6. Fulfill your promises
7. Embrace an attitude of service
8. Encourage two-way participation with the people you influence
 The Benefit of Trust: Influence
When you earn people’s trust, you begin to earn their confidence, and that is one of the
keys to influence. President Dwight D. Eisenhower expressed his opinion on the subject
this way:
In order to be a leader, a man must have followers. And to have
followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence, the supreme
quality for a leader is unquestionable integrity. Without it, no real
success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football
field, in the army, or in an office. If a man’s associates finds that he
lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must
square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and
high purpose.
THANK YOU