Capitol to pilot integrity system

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu was chosen as one of the 13 provinces in the country to pilot an internal integrity system.

Called as the Local Government Integrity Circle Network (LoGIC), the project is currently managed by the Cebu Provincial Investment and Promotions Office (CPIPO).

“The LoGIC project's overall objective is to contribute to a culture of integrity in local government units (LGUs) all over the Philippines. Specifically, the project aims to develop and implement customized integrity mechanisms in 300 LGUs in the Philippines,” the project briefer stated.

With the help of the stakeholders from other Capitol departments, the CPIPO is currently developing a customized and standardized set of criteria on how to assess the integrity of an office. Examples of this are posting of signages and increasing of transparency measures especially in terms of public finance.

One of its assessment tool checks whether a specific integrity measure has not been done, beginning, expanding, consistent, or advanced.

CPIPO head Flor Alpuerto said that the technical working group will finalize the mechanism this month.

“To institutionalize integrity, we need a system for internal checks and balances ug para pud ma-raise ang quality of standards,” she said.

Once the system is developed, she intends to push for the establishment of an Internal Audit Services Office in order to strengthen the integrity system. The frequency of the monitoring and evaluation is yet to be determined.

“Integrity should not just in the rules but also in the lifestyle,” she emphasized.

Once the project gains momentum towards success, LoGIC is eyed to be cascaded to the 51 local government units under Cebu Province.

The towns of San Remigio and Tuburan are eyed to be the first set of local implementers should LOGIC succeed in the provincial government.

Alpuerto added that aside from quality assurance, it may also be a tool to foster a corruption-free public office. She stressed that while every civil servant is included in the project, the project primarily aims for the millennial workers to imbibe the value of integrity at work and not be influenced by dishonest practices of their elder co-workers if there's any.

“It's encouraging personal leadership kay in case they are confronted in a situation, they know what is the right thing to do,” she said.

LoGIC kicked off last November 28 with the Capitol signing a memorandum of understanding with other partners--Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, League of the Provinces of the Philippines, League of the Cities of the Philippines, and League of Municipalities of the Philippines. (FREEMAN)