Ombudsman Integrity Caravan launched

MANILA, Philippines - As it celebrates its silver anniversary this week, the Office of the Ombudsman has launched a yearlong series of activities seeking to enhance public involvement in the fight against corruption.

Supported by the United Nations Development Program and other development partners, the Ombudsman Integrity Caravan involves activities that will engage public and private sectors in the projects of the anti-corruption agency to build a strategic partnership among stakeholders.

Among the activities is a public governance forum that will bring together multi-sectoral practitioners and advocates of good governance and anti-corruption for a public dialogue.

The Ombudsman Integrity Lecture, on the other hand, is a series of lectures on various good governance and anti-corruption topics to be delivered by distinguished personalities from the local and global community.

A University Integrity Tour will also be conducted to build the foundations of good governance and anti-corruption in the country’s educational system.

“It will showcase the various programs and projects through mini-lectures, audio-visual presentations and photo exhibits in several universities nationwide,” the Office of the Ombudsman said.

Another part of the caravan is the Barangay Integrity Fora, a knowledge sharing and public exchange among barangay officials on ethical standards, good governance and public accountability.

The Integrity Development Contest will also be held for students at various levels to introduce them to the fundamentals of good governance and anti-corruption through creative means such as essay writing, poster making and short video production contests.

“It (caravan) will specifically involve key government agencies, local government units, private institutions, academic institutions, the business sector, development partners, peoples’ organizations, civil service organizations, non-governmental organizations and the general public,” the Office of the Ombudsman said.