MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has signed the agreement for the establishment of the International Anti-Corruption Academy, becoming one of its founding members, the Department of Foreign Affairs said recently.
The agreement to create the first international anti-corruption institution was signed by Philippine Ambassador to Austria and to the International Organizations in Vienna Lourdes Yparraguirre last Sept. 2.
The launching of the Academy, based in Laxenburg in Lower Austria, was held in Vienna the following day.
The academy would offer degree programs tailored for policy makers and professionals.
At the inauguration of the academy, Yparraguirre reiterated the Philippines’ strong commitment to fight corruption.
“For our newly elected President, Benigno Aquino III, ending corruption and reducing poverty are the most urgent priorities of his administration.
With an active civil society, we are fighting corruption as an indispensable part of our quest to achieve meaningful growth and progress,” Yparraguirre said.
During the high-level segment, Yparraguirre reiterated the Philippines’ strong commitment to the global fight against corruption.
The Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) that represents an international consensus to fight corruption in governments.
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Philippine accession to the UNCAC and transmitted its ratification to the Senate, which ratified the treaty on Nov. 8, 2006. UNCAC has 128 state parties and 140 signatories.
International think tank Transparency International said corruption continues to be a hindrance to the Philippines’ development.
The Philippines ranked 139th among 180 countries in the 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index compiled by the think tank.
In the Global Corruption Report released in September last year, Transparency International said graft and corruption “are a fact of life” in the Philippines. It noted that almost every administration suffers a sensational graft case.
The United Nations said corruption not only hinders economic growth, but also debilitates judicial and political systems, erodes trust in government, leads to human rights violations, and adversely affects markets.
The UN said corruption is one of the biggest obstacles to achieving the globally agreed targets to reduce poverty, hunger and other social ills by 2015, also known as the Millennium Development Goals.