THE political opposition, media, leftists and academe are not the only groups that condemn corruption as the bane of development of the nation.

The government apologists were silenced, however, when RP was crowned No. 1 most corrupt nation in Far East Asia, dislodging Indonesia.

The embarrassing tagline was chorused by independent watch groups that had no hidden agenda in the country: Transparency International, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

But the loudest verdict came, of course, from the Filipino people who recently gave President Arroyo, the country’s CEO, a brutal rating of minus 38 percent, even lower than June 2009’s minus 31-percent rating.

Apparently, the glowing gross national product and gross domestic product statistics flaunted by the Palace did not benefit Juan de la Cruz, as these figures somehow were sidetracked into “private pockets” through graft.

And being the only Catholic nation in the Far East, more so the Filipinos took notice when their spiritual leader, Pope Benedict XVI, himself spoke against corruption in the Philippines.

The irony was not lost on the Pontiff about the Christian nation in Asia becoming a hotbed of graft and injustice. Apparently, many Filipinos mouth religious quotations, but do not practice them. It cannot be otherwise.

The Holy Father on October 2 said: “The struggle against poverty in the Philippines calls for honesty, integrity and unwavering fidelity to the principles of justice, especially on the part of those entrusted with positions of governance and public administration.”

In brief layman terms, Pope Benedict said the prevailing poverty in the Philippines calls for upright political leaders. Subtly put, but the drift is clear.

The benign but frank admonition was given by the Pontiff on the occasion of receiving the new Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican, Mercedes Arrastia Tuason. The two other new ambassadors to the Vatican from the Netherlands and the United States heard the Pope’s chastisement.

Every year the Philippine national budget increases substantially—now nestled at an all-time high of P1.4 trillion.

But not all of that goes to public service—a lot diverted into private profits in kickbacks.

Every public finance man knows that the national budget is divided into three: (1) Personal Services (PS); (2) MOEE (Maintenance and Operating); and (3) Capital Outlay (CO).

Some of them get frittered away into slimy hands unto enlarged pockets of crooks via ghost employees, overpriced supplies or short deliveries and kickbacks for infrastructure (resulting in inferior outputs).

Given the 30-percent average rate of thievery done on government deals and personnel operations, a P1.4-trillion budget means at least P400 billion is shared among private crooks and their conniving public officials and bureaucrats—to the prejudice of the common good. Let us analyze that.

And let us not go very far but at the doorsteps from where the typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng exited with so much destruction on their paths.

One of the center points of discussion should be the Office of the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources). It is the agency tasked to look over the causes of the merciless floods that recently devastated Luzon.

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza may have the best of intentions, but he does not have a complete handle over all his underlings—especially those in the regions.

We have heard that “if the price is right,” the magic phrase “ECC” (environmental clearance certificate) is given to the subdivisions where they should not be, dubious mining claimants, businesses built over esteros, factories that illegally dump waste and resorts who violate environmental laws.

These criminals should be ferreted out by Atienza. It is almost public knowledge that ECCs are for sale. Let’s not kid ourselves.

Then, there is that little-known rainfall and flood forecasting gadget system bought by the DPWH for use of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) costing about P1.1 billion, which has been allowed to rot in Quezon City. It gave feeble warnings to mostly the Marikina area in the last flooding.

But according to MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, the “white elephant” is obsolete and costs about P 500 million just to maintain and repair—with some part supplies inaccessible. A functioning machine would have saved millions in properties and hundreds of lives.

So, will anyone ever go to jail for this? Who recommended to buy this lemon—and who got the commissions for this ancient thingamajig? Look at its consequences.

The government is now seeking a P 12-billion Calamity Fund supplemental budget. President Arroyo, is likewise, asking the international community for, hold your breath, $1 billion or P46 billion in rehabilitation bonds aside from the P4-billion foreign aid already in Manila.

But who is monitoring cash-flow statements and assigned accountabilities for the typhoon fund?

Africa had suffered in the past when the donor-nations found out that the foreign aid was partly spirited away by local officials. The height of greed and insensitivity, of course. Let us not allow such to happen here, for goodness sake.

We cannot blame cynicism to creep in when people say that, after the Pope’s holy chastisement, it is foolhardy to allow the P58 billion (P12 billion plus P46 billion) to easily flow into the playful hands of those with dubious, dishonest track records in the past.

Private participation (high-calibered and honest individuals) in the Rehab Committee distribution should not be used to deodorize the rampant corruption by government that occurs on the actual ground.

Let us not forget that 2010 is an election year.

If the Inquirer is indeed correct in saying that the current public officials are beyond redemption, let us then, in the least, be cock-sure that we elect only upright public officials in 2010. Just look around you with discernment.

Let us listen to the Holy Man as he speaks.

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Seminar on rural farming and gardening

DUE to good response, there will be two runs of the “Seminar on Natural Farming and Gardening” at Flor’s Garden along Marcos Highway in Antipolo City. This environment-friendly seminar (open to the public) is sponsored by the Finex Research and Development Foundation, in cooperation with Earth School.

Seminar participants will have a field trip in the ecology-based garden while learning the tools on how to enrich soil and grow their own animal feeds using herbs and plants, and growing chicken and pigs the “natural way.” Tips on how to use flora in treatment of common diseases will be an added attraction.

Interested “environmental warriors” can contact Cherry Basilio at 811-4187-88 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Free Enterprise is a rotating column of members of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, appearing every Wednesday and Friday.