Corruption poll: Phl better at 94th

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ ranking in the list of most corrupt countries slightly improved this year, according to the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International.

The Philippines was ranked 94th out of 177 countries rated, scoring 36 out of 100.

While the country’s ranking has improved, its actual CPI score showed the level of perceived corruption is still significant, Transparency International said.

The Philippines shared 94th place with Algeria, Armenia, Benin, Colombia, Djibouti, India, and Suriname.

In 2012, the Philippines placed 105th out of 176 countries, with a score of 34.

The CPI scores and ranks countries/territories based on how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived to be. The CPI is the most widely used indicator of corruption worldwide.

More than two thirds of the 177 countries in the 2013 index scored below 50, on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived as very clean).

In the Asia-Pacific region, 64 percent of the countries scored below 50.

“The Corruption Perception Index 2013 demonstrates that all countries still face the threat of corruption at all levels of government, from the issuing of local permits to the enforcement of laws and regulations,” said Huguette Labelle, chair of Transparency International.

Denmark and New Zealand were tied for first place with scores of 91. While Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia were this year’s worst performers, scoring just eight points each.

“The top performers clearly reveal how transparency supports accountability and can stop corruption,” Labelle said.