Nine out of 10 Filipinos agree that the government should strengthen anti-corruption laws, representatives, agencies, and collective mechanisms to implement and fulfill its international commitment to fight corruption, according to a Pulse Asia survey commissioned by research organization Stratbase Group.
It was also found in the nationwide survey conducted from Sept. 17 to 21, 2022 with 1,200 respondents that 36 percent of Filipinos believe that controlling corruption will benefit the recovery and development of the country’s economy, while 22 percent believe it will improve the condition of ordinary citizens.
In an online forum on Thursday, Nov. 10, Stratbase CEO and Democracy Watch Philippines lead convenor Prof. Dindo Manhit said concerns about transparency and accountability in government cannot be addressed unless it is prioritized by the government.
“A very important value that we lack in our governance culture: accountability. I like the Filipino word ‘pananagutan’. Imagine if the public sector is accountable for their actions and their decisions in a more transparent way. Then you know, it leads me to my third word, which is ‘responsive’. Then they become more responsive. The public would feel that this government is serving us,” Manhit explained during the forum where he presented the results of the Pulse Asia survey.
“Considering that majority of our people are poor, imagine the responsive governance system—they can basically uplift the lives of our people because resources after resources are placed in the bureaucracy. That’s money spent coming from people’s taxes,” he added.
With the Marcos government’s proposed P5.268 trillion budget for 2023, Manhit emphasized the need to ensure efficient and proper spending of public funds.
“What we want is institutions of government to become more transparent, accountable, and responsive in terms of delivering public services, in terms of managing the public sector. Because at the end of the day, they exist for the general public alone and for the national interest of the Filipino people alone. So that’s very key,” he said.
Corruption top concern for businesses
The same survey by Pulse Asia also showed that 91 percent of Filipinos believe that in order to effectively control corruption, the government should cooperate with various forces and groups in society, such as civil society, academia, private sector, mass media, and ordinary citizens.
Manhit expressed optimism that with a whole-of-society approach, it is possible to have a transparent and accountable government.
He also noted that a recent survey conducted by the Management Association of the Philippines among business leaders showed that 67 percent believe that corruption is the leading factor delaying the country’s economic recovery.
“Bringing in even people who might not normally be vocal like the private sector, like the business sector. So, a whole-of-society approach can ensure transparency, accountability, and a responsive public sector. We just have to work together, continue pushing it and making it a top agenda of government and society as a whole group in the Philippines,” Manhit explained.
“It’s good to have the private sector—to listen to them, to engage with them, instead of vilifying them because that’s what President Duterte did. Data shows that the public knows the role that the private sector plays and they have played it through the years: job creation and investments, which uplifts the lives of people,” he added.