A total of 21 organizations from the government, business sector, academe, and civil society on Wednesday underscored the need for a whole-of-Philippine-society approach and collective action among different sectors to address corruption in the country.
“To effectively combat this issue, a holistic and coordinated effort is required. There needs to be a multi-pronged approach that addresses both prevention and enforcement,” Stratbase ADR Institute President Victor Andres Manhit said in a forum organized by Stratbase ADR Institute and Democracy Watch Philippines, Inc.
“There must be sustained discussions on promoting transparency and accountability, making government processes and initiatives more open and inclusive to public discussion, creating mechanisms for oversight and monitoring, and implementing strong legal frameworks that hold individuals and organizations accountable for their actions,” he added.
Budget Undersecretary Wilford Wong presented the actions taken by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to strengthen transparency and accountability in government.
Among these, he said, is the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) National Action Plan, which supports collaborative engagement from governments and civil society in designing, implementing, and monitoring commitments.
“OGP is characterized by participatory consultations, strong multi-sectoral partnerships, and open and constructive exchange of thoughts which has led to implementing commitments that have positively affected bureaucratic efficiency, economic resiliency, and greater citizen participation in the country,” Wong said.
Among the groups that attended the event are the DBM, Makati Business Club (MBC), Integrity Initiative, Institute of Corporate Directors, Ateneo School of Government, La Salle Institute of Governance, Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Development Academy of the Philippines, Legal Network for Truthful Elections, International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance, Asian School of Management, Philippine Trade Inc., CitizenWatch Philippines, Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship, Bantay Konsyumer, Kuryente at Kalsada, and Universal Health Care Watch Philippines.
Meanwhile, business groups also discussed the importance of different sectors of government working together to ensure transparency and accountability in the country.
“The most important policy of all is the policy in the private sector. In the Integrity Initiative, we believe that the solution to corruption should be with the private sector and other partners because there will be no bribe taker if there is no bribe giver,” said Atty. Alexander Cabrera, chairman of Integrity Initiative.
To ensure transparency, Francisco Alcuaz, MBC executive director, said there needs to be three important policies: the FOI law, stronger statement of assets, liabilities, and net (SALN) worth law and anti-Money laundering laws, and an improved bank secrecy law.
“If you strengthen the SALN and loosen the bank secrecy law, you will help prosecutors and even ARTA to prosecute officials and businesses who corrupt the system. This will level the playing field and attract businesses that play by the rules. Rather than corruption, the money will be flowing to more infrastructures that last longer. Not infra where they cut corners or they scrimp on the materials and they deteriorate in a few years,” Alcuaz explained.
Ateneo School of Government Dean Philip Arnold Tuaño also highlighted the importance of the collaboration of academic institutions with local chief executives to achieve better performance standards in the local government units.
“The auditing capability for local government officials is important as an effective measure for monitoring performance standards. This is where we see the important role of institutions in monitoring transparency and accountability within government agencies,” Tuaño said.
La Salle Institute of Governance Director Ador Torneo stressed that academic institutions can also help build the capacity of government, society private sector, and other actors. “Academic intuitions play an important role in governance, especially in addressing corruption and promoting transparency and accountability,” he said.
International Center for Innovation, Transformation, and Excellence in Governance chairperson Mardi Mapa-Suplido highlighted the importance of civil society participation in ensuring a transparent and accountable government.
“In civil society, the ultimate objective is to achieve positive development outcomes. We cannot assert at this point that we will attain favorable development outcomes solely through good governance. Instead, good governance can be realized through transparency, accountability, and active participation in politics,” she explained.