Skip to main content

Making the dream of a corruption-free RP come true

MANILA, Philippines—However difficult it may be to swallow, the Philippines is perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.



According to the latest Transparency International global corruption index, the country continues to be in the “highly corrupt’’ category, ranking 134th out of the 178 countries included in the index. In Asia Pacific, the Philippines occupies the 26th spot out of a total 33 economies.



But it is not too late to make a positive change. The Aquino government has six years to make good on its promise to drastically reduce, if not eradicate, corruption in the country. Given the current situation, however, this is quite a tall order. Impossible even, if government will be expected to do the job alone.



This is why various business groups have decided to help make this dream of an almost corruption-free Philippines come true.



Late last year, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and the Makati Business Club banded together to launch the Integrity Initiative, a four-year initiative that aimed to ensure integrity and good corporate governance among local businesses.



The Integrity Initiative urges local businesses to commit to exerting efforts to stamp out corruption in the country. It aims to identify issues that relate to integrity and transparency in business transactions, develop a Business Code of Conduct, create an Industry Integrity Pact that provides certain measures and controls to ensure integrity and transparency in business transactions, establish an audit and certification program for local firms, and institutionalize this entire process to promote long-term sustainability.



Since the initiative’s launch, ECCP executive vice president Henry Schumacher relates that around 170 companies “have pledged to run their business with integrity.



“Our focus is on the (chief executives). It’s not just about signing the pact, but walking the talk. They should have zero tolerance for bribery, and realize that long-term sustainability is better than short-term profit,’’ he says. “If you have integrity, you pay the proper taxes, do the right thing. The next step is to engage government. The Philippines can move up the Corruption Index if (these initiatives) can be done.’’



Ethical procurement



The Procurement and Sourcing Institute of Asia (Pasia) has also initiated a program that goes along the same lines as the Integrity Initiative, but is focused specifically on companies’ procurement activities.



The group is pushing for the certification of companies in the area of ethical procurement, similar to the recognition that the Institute of Corporate Directors bestows on companies that score high on its annual Corporate Governance Scorecard. The ICD ranks publicly listed companies’ performance vis-a-vis a set of corporate governance criteria.



Pasia chair Charlie Villasenor relates that his group plans to “knock on the door of every local company,’’ to educate them about the importance of ethical procurement standards and the benefits of sticking to aboveboard transactions.



“Ethical companies build a strong economy. We need ethical companies to have a strong country,’’ he says, adding that Pasia’s planned company certification scheme has more to do with recognizing local firms that are implementing best practices and high ethical standards in their procurement processes.



American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines membership committee member Brian Lane says Pasia’s ethical procurement program also goes hand in hand with the Aquino government’s platform of “no corruption, no poverty.’’



He adds that the Pasia initiative should eventually show companies that being ethical in their dealings is more an advantage than a disadvantage.



“We need to balance this approach. Companies who decide to play by the rules may sometimes lose out to the bad guys, or those who decide to break the rules. The multinationals can take this, but not the small guys. They may be tempted and pressured to also break the rules. It’s important to balance the approach so they’ll realize that it’s better to be ethical in their dealings,’’ he says.



Price to pay



“There’s always a price to pay, of course, but we have to make people understand this and make them willing to pay that price. This could improve the Philippines’ reputation in the region and in the world,’’ he adds.



Villasenor says Pasia will soon come up with its ethical procurement scorecard, which will rank and recognize companies with the highest ethical procurement standards.



While targeting companies as a whole and their chief executives in particular, Pasia training programs head Walter Buczynski says one very important target of the initiative are the people on the ground who are actually making the day-to-day procurement decisions.



“You can have rules on ethics and even an ethics committee, but the bottom line is still with the day-to-day people who work for you. They are the ones on the ground making the decisions. You have to bring (the ethical procurement initiative) to the level where the decisions are made,’’ he explains. “You have to make people understand the ethical standards that you want to follow and achieve. You can do this by conducting trainings and leading by example.’’



Source: Inquirer.net



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

637 passed the June 2013 RadTechs Board Exam

637 passed the June 2013 RadTechs Board Exam and 31 out of 138 passed the X-Ray Tech exam given by the Board of Radiologic Technology in the cities of Manila, Davao and Iloilo this month The results were released in two (2) working days after the last day of exam. RadTech Top 10- Topnotchers RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | RATING (%) 1 CHRISTOPHER AFALLA MACARAEG MEDICAL COLLEGE OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES 91.00 2 JOHN PAUL MARQUEZ CACAYAN SOUTHEAST ASIAN COLLEGE (UDMC) 90.60 MA KRISTINA BARAL CUENCA DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-HEALTH SCIENCES INSTITUTE 90.60 MARVIN REY OLIVA LATOZA HOLY INFANT COLLEGE 90.60 3 CHARLIE FRANCE GISALA EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE-MANILA 90.40 ROLANDO SALES MACASAQUIT JR CARTHEL SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION,INC. (for.OLRA) 90.40 4 JUSTIN REDEN BIGALBAL BAUTISTA EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE-MANILA 90.00 ESTIFANNY AGUIO MACARAEG DAVAO DOCTORS COLLEGE, INC. 90.00 BONIREY CARUNGCONG SIOSON DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-HEALTH SCIENCES INSTITUTE 90.00 5 PHILIP DELA CRUZ BENZAL NAZARENUS COL...

How to become an Eat Bulaga Studio Audience

For sure everybody wants to see the "Dabarkads" in person especiall "Bossing" and watch Eat Bulaga Live! How to make reservations for the show? HERE'S THE GUIDELINES FOR EAT BULAGA STUDIO RESERVATIONS: 1. Reservation and entrance is free of charge. 2. Children below seven (7) years old are NOT ALLOWED to enter the studio unless they are contestants or participants of the show. 3. Mobile phones, food and drinks are strictly prohibited in the studio premises and shall be surrendered to the security guards for safekeeping. 4. All studio audience are required to bring at least one (1) valid ID for identification purposes. 5. For further questions, please call 721-2222, 725-7100, 0927-7918828, 0949-6432631 and look for Tonette Aduna or Hyacinth Uri. For more information just visit, Ea Bulaga Official Website. Update from Eat Bulaga FB Page: STUDIO BOOKING AND RESERVATION 1. First come, first served basis po ang aming booking. Magpunta lang po sa Br...

Cristine Reyes alleged text messages to Ara Mina

Ara Mina filed libel and grave coercion charges against Cristine Reyes on Wednesday, April 18, because of the latter's alleged text messages. As reported from Mykiru ,  Pep.ph published on Thursday the alleged libelous text messages of Cristine Reyes to Ara Mina then at midnight Friday, Leo Bukas of Journal Online also published more "explosive" text messages that Ara Mina has received from Cristine. Read them below: "Lumayas ka na sa bahay mo! Lubog ka na sa utang! Nakakahiya ka! Pasosyal ka pa anu ka ngyaon? Pakainin ka ng kayabangan mo! Pakasalan ka sana ni Patrick (Meneses) para kahit paano guminhawa buhay mu, yu lang inaasahan mo sa buhay di ba? Makapangasawa ng mayaman! Nakakaawa ka! pero ako, hindi ako naaawa sa kagaya mo dahil wala kang kuwentang tao, kapatid, kaibigan.” “AYOKONG MAGPAKA-STRESS NG PANININGIL SA YO NG UTANG MO BILANG MAYAMAN NAMAN AKO DEDMA NA LANG PERO WAG MO ISIPIN NA NAAAWA AKO SA YO HA. MAS MAY UTAK LANG TALAGA AKONG SA YO KAYA KUK...

Idol sa Kusina- Japanese Cuisine Episode- August 21, 2011

Watch Idol sa Kusina on August 21, 2011- episode featuring Japanese Cuisine this Sunday. Don't forget watch Idol sa Kusina - 7:10pm @ GMA News TV. Idol sa Kusina embarks on an exciting culinary adventure with Japanese Cuisine as Chef Pablo "Boy" Logro shows off the splendor of his cooking skills especially on the teppan table. He unleashes the full veggie power of YAKI YASSAI and more... image credit: idolsakusina Watch Idol sa Kusina on GMANews with Chef Boy Logro. Practical tips and special techniques in cooking taught with a dose of humor and a sprinkling of lessons in life. IDOL SA KUSINA has all the right ingredients for a show that's both informative and highly entertaining. Host Master Chef Pablo “Boy” Logro and his celebrity guests will have viewers savoring sumptuous dishes and learning how to create these themselves. Recently seen as the head judge of GMA 7’s Kitchen Superstar, Chef Boy Logro is a master chef in Oriental , Mediterranean and West...

Katrina Halili's Life Story in "Magpakailanman"

Watch Katrina Halili's Life Story in "Magpakailanman"!  Katrina Halili's colorful and intriguing life story will be the initial featured presentation of Mel Tiangco's weekly drama anthology "Magpakailanman" when the show returns on weekend primetime TV starting November 24, Saturday. Update: Katrina Halili's life story will be featured on Magpakailanman on January 26, 2013 Kapuso singer Kris Lawrence invites you to watch this Saturday's Magpakailanman featuring the life story of Katrina Halili. Kris will also star as himself in the said episode.

November 2010 RADIOLOGIC & X-RAY TECHNOLOGIST LICENSURE EXAMS RESULTS

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 335 out of 979 passed the Radiologic Technologist and X-Ray Technologist Licensure Examinations given by the Board of Radiologic Technology in the cities of Manila and Zamboanga this November 2010 . The results were released in two (2) days after the last day of examinations. Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on Thursday, December 2, 2010 but not later than December 13, 2010. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 1 piece 1” x 1” picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps, and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession; and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Regi...

I got a TikTok Viewer Job Offer from Skyrocket Studio Ph- Scam or Not?

Earlier today, I got a message on my Whatsapp and telling me to become a TikTok Viewer with an attractive salary and commission. The message says it's a part-time job and I can work from Home. Legit or not? So I ask the sender who he/she is and how did she manage to get my Whatsapp number. She told me she was from Skyrocket Studio Ph  and she got my number from Whatsapp, Linkedin and/or Telegram. She's not sure actually where she got my number. Then I took to Google and search for the said company and saw a legit website: "We are a fresh, dynamic group of caffeine-fueled individuals inspired to deliver results through smart solutions. We’re an entrepreneurial bunch with expertise in creative technology, digital marketing, content & business strategy, web development, design, and social media." Then the Manager told me to install Telegram and this time I am not sure if  I am chatting with two different people from Whatsapp and Telegram. The so-called manager ask me...

Julie Anne San Jose named OPM Junior Ambassador

Kapuso quadruple platinum artist, Julie Anne San Jose alongside, Daniel Padilla and Yeng Constantino,, and hip-hop artist Abra were named Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) Junior Ambassadors. Daniel, Yeng and Abra received their plaques from OPM President Ogie Alcasid and some members including Mitch Valdez, Noel Cabangon, on Friday night, June 7, at the Pagcor Grand Theater. Julie Anna was absent as she is currentlyvacationing in New York, USA.