Group opposing flyovers back Ombud’s anti-graft campaign

Friday, December 9, 2011

THE group opposing the flyover project was among the attendees in yesterday’s Anti-Graft Day celebration of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, giving rise to the question of whether the proposed project will be turned into an anti-graft issue.

Joel Lee of the Movement for Livable Cities, however, clarified that no complaint is being filed to block the project being pushed by Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar of Cebu City’s north district, and her father, former congressman Raul del Mar.

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Lee, interviewed after the event that included his signing of an anti-graft covenant, cited how the anti-graft office looks into compliance with government procedures and processes as part of its anti-graft campaign.

“Our position has always been that there is no master plan for the project, that’s why we want them to have one. Planning makes this not a useless project and planning would include public consultation, which is also part of good governance,” Lee stressed.

Other attendees to the forum, which featured the brief appearance of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, also expressed their opposition to the flyover plan, with one noting that while the opposition to the project is multi-sectoral, only politicians are for it.

No comment

Lee declined to comment on plans to involve the anti-graft office or the courts, deferring to Atty. Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, the movement’s lawyer. She, however, was unable to attend the gathering that was also attended by Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol.

Addressing the gathering, Apostol said the Philippines failed in its anti-corruption initiative according to reports from Transparency International and the Hong Kong-based Pacific Economic Risks Consultancy (PERC), a consulting firm for investors.

Public perception on the success of the government’s anti-corruption effort is also low, Apostol said, citing surveys from the Social Weather Station.

“Media reports say corruption is happening everywhere and the people around us are saying we failed in our campaign against corruption,” Apostol said.

He cited the need to strengthen existing anti-corruption partnerships between government agencies, civil society and the private sector.

“We are not united in our anti-corruption campaign efforts. We have no national picture as to how far did we go in our fight against corruption,” he said.

Re-affirmation

He led the participants in the forum to a symbolic re-affirmation of their covenant forming the Multi-Sectoral Anti-Corruption Council, which is envisioned to have chapters in all localities, and is the consultative and coordinating body of the National Anti-Corruption Program of Action.

Its task in the national level, according to Apostol, is to “converge all anti-corruption efforts and reorient the Philippines into a corruption-intolerant society that values and practices a culture of integrity.”

Apostol highlighted the role of civil society groups, like the Movement for Livable Cities, the academe, faith-based organizations, people’s organizations and other non-government groups and special sectors like the youth.

He also urged further engagements with the business community and professional groups, adding that they can bring a different kind of perspective.