Fighting corruption

It’s a critical time in our country today and I am watching with bated breath. Political tensions are worsening amid Rody Duterte’s arrest and looming trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

His supporters aren’t taking this sitting down. They are on overdrive on social media, unleashing their anger, etc. For sure, Duterte’s historic arrest will affect the outcome of the May 2025 elections. Sympathy votes will favor the Duterte camp and their senatorial line-up and candidates at the local level.

The next surveys will reflect what happened and will be all about politics. But this shouldn’t be the case. We should consider the economic impact of our decisions when we vote in the upcoming elections.

It’s time that voters be discerning. We must choose public servants instead of the trapos or those who come from political dynasties to make our laws or govern our cities and provinces because they tend to favor the class they belong to. See how out of touch they are when asked about the issues of ordinary citizens – from problematic pedestrian lanes to the impact of the sweltering heat on students.

We must choose those who love our country and those with proven track records. We must choose those who are brave enough to speak out against corruption.

‘Silence is not an option’

Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, for instance, has consistently spoken against corruption, believing that silence is not an option.

“Silence is not neutrality – it is tolerance, it is complicity. And so, I urge each and every one of you: let us speak up. Let us speak out.”

In a video interview conducted by his team, Mayor Magalong said that corruption in the country is a serious problem. “We need to raise our voices and make noise to put an end to this huge problem. Have mercy on the people. Have even more mercy on our children, our grandchildren. And most of all, have mercy on our country, the Philippines. We only have one. Let us love our nation.”

I agree with Mayor Magalong. I have never met him but I admire him for speaking out against corruption. As former president Noynoy Aquino said, there’s a direct correlation between poverty and corruption.

What is lost to corruption, through kickbacks, etc., could otherwise be used for government projects such as schools and hospitals.

Here’s how Mayor Magalong illustrates it:

“What if I tell you that in a government project, only 30 percent to 35 percent of the budget actually goes to it? Look at this: a politician takes 25 percent to 40 percent. There’s an eight percent VAT. There’s a one percent insurance bond – those are the only legal deductions.

“But the implementing agency that executes the project takes another 10 percent to 15 percent. Let’s say they take an average of 12 percent. Then, there’s the additional cut for the Bids and Awards Committee.

“The contractor also has to set aside another three percent for contingencies because when they claim the check, they have to pass through multiple approvals, each requiring a bribe. So they set aside three percent for that.

“Then, there are the inspectors – they also need to be bribed. In short, from the amounts I’ve mentioned, around 55 percent is already gone. Only 45 percent remain. And from that 45 percent, the contractor hasn’t even made a profit yet.

“So the contractor, out of a sense of nationalism, might settle for just a 10 percent profit.”

The mayor, however, said there are contractors who won’t settle for a 10 percent profit, because that 10 percent will only be received after a year – there’s a retention period.

In the end, he said, only about 30 percent goes to the project, which makes it substandard.

“Look at what happened on Kennon Road. The rock netting was substandard, so it collapsed. The project was delayed. The design was faulty because they tried to cut costs. And what happened? Vehicles had to take a detour via Marcos Highway,” he said.

Mayor Magalong, who is running for a third term as mayor, said the fight against corruption isn’t over. He vowed to continue it.

Becoming a smart city

Beyond fighting corruption, Mayor Magalong is also focused on improving Baguio city, with focus on economic growth, social equity and cultural preservation.

With smart mobility solutions and data-driven governance, Magalong believes Baguio is setting a model for urban management nationwide.

He is aiming to make Baguio a smart city by 2027. He has already credited data-driven decision-making and artificial intelligence for improving Baguio’s notorious traffic situation and boosting the city’s economy.

In solving traffic, he looked at the data – which types of vehicles ply Baguio’s roads and when. For him, it’s not just about addressing the congestion but also about improving people’s well-being.

Mayor Magalong is just one example of what the right leadership can do to improve a city or a locality. There are many other examples in the different cities and localities.

Unfortunately, many of these localities are also where corruption starts, and the cycle continues when they run for national positions, including the Senate or a seat in the House of Representatives.

We can put an end to this by choosing public servants and statesmen this May.

The younger voters can bring the change we want to see in the upcoming elections. I am pinning my hopes on them.

*      *      *

Email: eyesgonzales@gmail.com. Follow her on X @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.