Malacañang lauds Phl gains in corruption survey

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has welcomed the latest results of the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which showed an improvement in the country’s anti-corruption drive, although the country’s ranking still remains low.

Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said the government would continue to improve its good governance efforts and anti-corruption drive.

According to the latest CPI, the Philippines improved its ranking on the list of most corrupt countries, now ranking 105th out of 176 countries. This was an improvement from last year when the country filled the 129th spot.

Despite the improved ranking, the Philippines’ CPI rating remains low: 34 in a 0-100 scale, with 100 as the best possible score, according to Transparency International, an international corruption watchdog.

This means that a country with a score of zero is perceived to be very corrupt while a score of 100 means it is corruption-free.

“We note with much gratitude our ratings jump in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, which comes right after the announcement on our remarkable 7.1-percent economic growth,” Abad said.

He said that these gains reflect improved confidence in President Aquino’s leadership as well as the resilience of the domestic economy amidst weakening global demand.

Abad said he believes the improvement in the CPI shows that investors are acknowledging the government’s anti-corruption efforts.

“Our improved performance in the CPI shows us that we are indeed making headway in our efforts to combat corruption and that we are now at a better position to gain the trust of both local and foreign investors,” he said.

He noted that the public procurement processes in the country have become much more transparent, with the government inviting bidders to make more competitive bids and pursue more ethical practices in their business.

Furthermore, Abad said the Aquino administration’s Tuwid na Daan platform is being implemented.

“We can truly say that transparent, accountable, and participative leadership aren’t just abstract terms, but are instead necessary for creating real and sustainable benefits for all Filipinos,” he said.