CORRUPTION is an ancient issue in the Philippines and raising it seems to be a tired old refrain. But one can’t help raising the alarm again and, if need be, for a thousand times especially in the light of the devastation brought by typhoon Frank.  For a wrecked nation, corruption is a curse that must be stamped out if it has to rise and recover from the ashes of the calamity.

The country cannot afford to waste scarce and precious resources to the scourge of corruption while many lost the little things they had in the disaster of Frank. This matter takes an urgent note in the context of the shameful revelation of the recent World Bank study on corruption released last week.

Philippines, according to the latest study, is at the bottom of the list among East Asia’s 10 largest economies in the corruption index. It ousted Indonesia, the previous record holder of a country that scored worst in corruption in the 2007 survey. From 23 percent last year, the country slid down to 22 percent this year in corruption control.

This ranked takes a more disgraceful twist when viewed in the worldwide survey involving 212 countries. The current percentile rank of the Philippines indicates it scored better in only 22 percent of the countries studied. Translated, the country is among the bottom 50 countries with worst record in corruption.

Never mind the worldwide ranking, the fact that the Philippines is the most corrupt country among the 10 of  East Asia’s biggest economies today is more than enough to put every Filipino to shame.

This fact becomes more meaningful when one considers the steady decline of the Philippines in corruption index since the time President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) became the leader of the country. When PGMA assumed power, the rank of the country was at 36.9 percent. Now the Philippines has 22 percent a horrific 14.9 percent decline.

Consider other facts on corruption concerning the country. The Philippines ranked 60 out of 61 countries surveyed on corruption and bribery according to the 2006 World Competitiveness Survey by the Switzerland-based Institute for Management Development.  In the 2005 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of Transparency International, Philippines ranked 117 among the 159 countries surveyed, indicating severe corruption problem. According to the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, Philippines got a score this year of 9.4 from 7.8 in the previous study on corruption, with a 10 score indicating the worst in corruption.

All these studies reveal that under the “presidency” of PGMA, corruption in the Philippines had gone from worse to worst. What makes the situation utterly despicable is the fact that nothing has been done to address the situation. No arrest, no conviction, much more no progress on the numerous corruption scandals hounding the current administration. After the usual public furor, nothing is heard from the cases of corruption involving high ranking officials until the next scandal erupts.

Filipinos are paying a very high price for their callousness and indifference to graft and corruption of their leaders. According to studies, 40 percent of the national budget is lost to corruption. The Office of the Ombudsman estimates that in the last 20 years $48 billion was lost to corruption.

The huge amount of money lost in corruption could make a big difference in national life in terms of social and economic development. With the national coffers constantly robbed by officials, there are no funds to finance infrastructure and development projects. When natural calamities like the recent typhoon Frank strike, the government is always short of funds to finance relief and rehabilitation. Budget for disaster management and preparedness was miniscule.

Had the curse of corruption been drastically reduced if not eradicated, the suffering of the nation in times of natural disaster would not have been worst and the destruction reduced due to preparedness. Corruption had siphoned off resources that could have mitigated the impact of the calamity.

In matters like corruption, it is always convenient to blame officials for this large scale thievery. But the people must not forget these robbers were able to occupy public office because they voted them. Leaders mirror the people who chose them.

This nation is reeking with corruption because Filipinos tolerated and even supported the corrupt. The only way for the Philippines to remove the curse of corruption is, the people themselves must throw out the corrupt leaders in office and not to give them their votes. If Filipinos remain indifferent to corruption, the country will continue to wallow in poverty and underdevelopment with the world always consigning it among the company of the most corrupt.

2 Responses to “The curse of corruption”

• 1
  Dr. Antonio Gestosani
  July 6th, 2008 01:59

  Well said, Ms. Fernandez. So my question is: whats next? Does this message resonate to your fellow Ilonggos and the Filipinos in general? Come on guys, your mother ship is sinking and she needs your help now, ASAP. Move now (SOS) or this ship will continue to sink right before your eyes. GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES.
• 2
  Dr. Antonio Gestosani
  July 8th, 2008 00:46

  Well, nobody yet took my plea to heed the call of your mother ship-SOS! I am challenging these elite and privilege 160 prominent families in the Philippines to their civic and christian duties to alleviate the sufferings of the less privilege and poor Filipinos. I also challenge the Government to ease the pain of these poor and less deserving Filipinos to stop fleecing them with added value taxes. Dear honorable Senators and Congressmen, don’t disgrace your title (Honorable) and start serving the people that sent you there; be transparent now, and show the people that you are sincere and ready to serve them - give up your “pork barrel” now! This is your first step in the right direction to show your honesty and be repentant. Filipinos are forgiving people.

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