More than a slogan

Sometimes a political catchphrase seems to capture the mood of a particular time in history. In Britain, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan’s words in 1957 that “most of our people have never had it so good” reflected the success of the post-war economy. A generation later in America, Ronald Reagan’s “it’s morning in America” slogan helped win the Presidency and remains to this day a potent reference point across the US political spectrum. In the Philippines, President Aquino’s 2010 campaign slogan “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” (if no one is corrupt, no one will be poor) may well prove to be equally symbolic.

The President’s anti-corruption mantra has clearly resonated with the public, and not just at the grassroots level where poverty is most strongly experienced. Business has also got behind the anti-corruption drive, as demonstrated by the Integrity Initiative championed by the private sector. The European Chamber of Commerce and Makati Business Club started the Initiative. The British Chamber of Commerce is now among its supporters, and many British companies have signed the accompanying Integrity Pledge. The Integrity Initiative reflects the wider mood in the Philippines. To me, the widespread recognition that corruption has been holding back the country and that people need to act differently — with integrity, in other words — is unmistakable.

This change in mood is crucially important. The problem of corruption is closely bound up with perceptions. Transparency International’s well known international corruption index is a survey of perceptions of corruption in different countries. Last year’s survey saw the Philippines improve its position, reflecting the growing view internationally that corruption is on the wane here, albeit with significant remaining room for improvement. When a prospective new investor or exporter comes to the Philippines for the first time, the sense that the economy is buzzing and that corruption is falling is all-important. Without it, he or she may not come back. Of course, moods can change quickly

and so can perceptions. One of the biggest challenges for the government is to entrench and institutionalize the popular antipathy to corruption. Integrity is essential, but as auditors will tell you, trust is not a control. So integrity needs to be underpinned with proper rules and enforcement.

The UK is ranked near the top of global lists for its very low rates of corruption. But we are not complacent. One of our most important anti-corruption measures of recent years is the Bribery Act of 2010. This not only provides for tough penalties for acts of bribery within the UK, but also covers such acts if carried out by or on behalf of British companies overseas. It complements a wide range of existing legislation covering other harmful business practices, from insider trading to anti-competitive behaviour. In the Philippines my Embassy is supporting the government’s anti-corruption drive including by promoting what the UK’s Bribery Act requires of companies, working with the Department of Finance on anti-money laundering and providing specialist skills to the Office of the Ombudsman. The business and government leaders championing the anti-corruption drive are under no illusions about the length and difficulty of the battle they are seeking to win. But it’s a battle that is relevant to all Filipinos, and which goes to the heart of ensuring the Philippines achieves its full potential.

President Aquino‘s goal is of course correct. To quote another famous political slogan of the 1980s, by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, “there is no alternative”.

(Stephen Lillie is British Ambassador to the Philippines.)