Use technology to fight corruption, youth told

MANILA, Philippines - Anti-corruption advocates yesterday urged the youth to use the latest technology platforms such as social networking sites and cellular phones to promote transparency and accountability in government.

Theary Seng, a member of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP), said technology savvy youth can promote good governance.

“We have to put emphasis on the youth. They use technology. We should pay more attention to making this important medium beneficial in increasing the impact of social accountability,” she said during the opening of the Global Distance Learning Network annual conference at the Asian Institute of Management campus in Makati.

The World Bank (WB) supported ANSA-EAP promotes social accountability by providing a common platform for information exchange as well as capacity-building opportunities to citizens’ groups and governments.

Mary McNeil, senior operations officer of the World Bank Institute (WBI), the learning arm of the WB, said technology is a powerful tool because it ensures availability of information, which in turn discourages corruption.

“The youth are so much connected electronically. We have to look into these new technologies and see how we can use them. A lot of young people are involved in Facebook. We need to develop these tools in terms of bringing about change. I think you can really bring about reform or, at the minimum, bring about greater transparency,” she added.

Seng, who is also executive director of the Cambodia-based group Center for Social Development, said technology should be used to relay socially-relevant information.

“Instead of texting what you had for lunch, you can use that for monitoring. It is about having more social conscious content attached to technology,” Seng said. 

Vincent Lazatin, executive director of Transparency and Accountability Network, a network of local anti-corruption groups, said the correct use of technology is crucial during the elections.

“Technology is an equalizer. Through technology, people have access to information. Many Filipinos use social networking sites to discuss issues or the statements of candidates. It can also be used to report anomalies or poll violence,” he said. “Since we have weak institutions, the use of technology can bring about positive change.”

The Philippines has around 60 million cellular phone users and an estimated Internet penetration of 24.5 percent. — Alexis Romero