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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Cracking the code: Baguio City's fight against corruption

Cracking the code: Baguio City's fight against corruption

BARRACKS AND STRATEGY

Published Dec 31, 2023 04:17 pm

GUEST COLUMNIST

GENERAL BALADAD.jpg

By Lt. Gen. AURELIO B. BALADAD (Ret)

 

Happy New Year!
 

As we face the New Year, corruption is a big problem plaguing our country and people are talking a lot about it. But instead of just saying it's there, let us talk about ways to stop it and check out what Baguio City is doing to fight this problem. What they are doing might help us find more effective solutions to address corruption.


Under the able leadership of Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Baguio City’s battle cry to fight corruption is “Good Governance… Get Involved!” The purpose of this is to motivate and empower the citizenry to actively take part in the fight against corruption. There are suggestion boxes, hotlines, social media, and online pages for people to report bad things happening or when services are not good. The residents now serve as watchdogs against substandard projects in their barangays. This helps the city respond to complaints and gets people more actively involved in stopping corruption. Also, a civil society organization desk was established to promote participatory governance. They ensure everyone has a say in how things are run. This gives everyone a sense of ownership of the good things happening in the City.


Mayor Magalong leads by example and talks a lot about stopping corruption. An example of this is when he stated, “I’m raising awareness of the ill effects of corruption … hoping we will be able to change the mindset of our people [and]…demand good governance from their political leaders.” He wants to change people's minds about corruption and make sure everyone asks for fair and honest leadership. Anti-corruption campaigns and awareness programs increased perceptions about the harmful effects of corruption. Internal oversight mechanisms reinforce the city’s anti-corruption measures. Mechanisms include strict conduct of internal audits. It also raised consciousness about the important role of ethical governance. More importantly, it promotes intolerance toward corruption and discourages corrupt practices.


The City of Pines is taking steps to let everyone know what is going on in the local government. As such, they set up a website (https://new.baguio.gov.ph) where everyone can easily find and share lots of information about the government, its barangays, the citizens’ charters, services, and programs. Also, they have meetings with the local community, plan things together, and listen to people in different areas. In this way, everyone can see what officials are doing and how they are running things. 


Using new technology like their website and social media makes things clearer for everyone and stops corruption. It makes government work faster and helps stop bad practices from happening. This way, they focus on doing things more efficiently.


Regular audits are also conducted and the reports about where public funds are spent are shared with the community. Ensuring the proper and wise use of public funds helps develop among city officials and employees the virtue of honesty.


City executives want everyone in the government service to value integrity. Through ethics training programs, they instill in them how to be responsible and do things with integrity. This ensures everyone working for the city serves excellently and upholds righteousness always.


A crucial part of combatting corruption is the leadership of the Mayor. During the 114th Charter Day on Sept. 1 last year, the mayor in his State of the City Address declared, “As political leaders, we bear the responsibility of creating conditions where good governance can not only take root but also evolve into a way of life. Tama na ang mga dating gawain! Hinding-hindi na gagana ang mga nakasanayan noon!” His righteous leadership set the tone that Baguio City will not tolerate corruption and will do everything to stop it.


Another aspect is Mayor Magalong's integrity. We have a common history as classmates at the Philippine Military Academy. During our journey as members of the Honor Committee as plebes (first-year cadets) until our graduation in 1982, I personally observed his good character and commitment to integrity. When he signed the report of the PNP Board of Inquiry on the Mamasapano incident, he displayed his resolute integrity during his service. This commitment to integrity continues to shape his tenure as a public servant.


Understanding the summer capital's fight against corruption makes it clear that good governance is more than just talking about problems, it is about what you do to stop corruption. The mayor’s outstanding leadership and unwavering integrity, and Baguio City's commitment to openness, honesty, inclusiveness, acceptance of technology, and self-regulation, make the city a positive example in the fight against corruption. Baguio City is committed to being a corruption-free place for the benefit of all.

(Lt. Gen. Aurelio B. Baladad (Ret) served as the 8th commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, the 32nd commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, and the former deputy chief of staff for Operations, J3 of the AFP. He is a graduate of Master in Development Management (with Dist) of AIM. He is now the VP for cooperative planning and marketing of PAFCPIC, a cooperative serving the active and retired AFP personnel.)

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