Drilon: Corruption hampers government’s anti-poverty drive

Corruption impedes development and hampers the ability of the country to achieve the United Nations target of reducing poverty by 50 percent in the next 10 years, Senate President Franklin Drilon said yesterday.

Drilon made the statement during his speech before the 25th biennial convention of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII) at the Westin Philippine Plaza.

Throughout the world, Drilon said, "corruption stands in the way of achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reducing poverty by 50 percent in 10 years."

Drilon lauded the FFCCCII for building classrooms at "graft-free and cost-efficient prices."

The FFCCCII is in a partnership with Drilon in his project to build classrooms around the country.

Drilon noted that the school building project could serve as a model for transparency and accountability in the implementation of infrastructure projects.

He said the project was spending only P200,00 for the construction of a classroom, an amount 50 percent lower than what the Department of Public Works and Highways would spend for a similar unit.

Drilon rejected the observation that the absence of a legal framework and the shortage of expert personnel and financial resources are the main causes of corruption.

"I believe that the biggest underlying reason is the lack of political will," he said.

Corruption, Drilon said, "is not just an economic and political issue" but a "moral issue as well" since it deprives the poor of basic social services, among other things.

"Rampant corruption results in bad infrastructure, low literacy rate, a backward economy, n-grly trained and ill-equipped military, badly damaged environment, and inadequate public services," he said.

Drilon stressed the importance of education in improving the economy and urged his audience to continue their support for his quest to reduce the shortage of classrooms and quality teachers in the country.

Drilon also reported on the success of the recently concluded Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly.

He said the foreign lawmakers and their staff left with a positive impression that the Philippines was a safe place for visitors and investors, contrary to the country’s image in the international media.

A total of 1,300 delegates from 116 of the 144 member countries of the IPU gathered at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City from April 3 to 8.