|
Friday, August 04, 2006
Youth volunteers to get training in fighting graft
Barug! Pilipino (BP), in partnership with Manila-based Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), is coming up with a module on lifestyle check program intended for civil society organizations (CSOs).
This is in preparation for the actual implementation of the program in Cebu by BP in coordination with the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
Jethro Alpuerto, advocacy coordinator of BP, said they have also tapped the youth, which is the largest, most dynamic and idealistic sector of the society, in the program.
Furthermore, Fr. Car-melo Diola, BP vice chairman, stressed that the project aims “to ignite spaces of hope for ordinary people” by doing concrete actions against corruption.
Consultation
Reylynne de la Paz, education and advocacy coordinator of TAN, said part of the activities for the formulation of the module was the holding of a one-day consultation with young professionals, representatives of youth organizations and students of six colleges and universities in Cebu.
The consultation, held in St. Jerome Bible Center, Seminario Mayor de San Carlos Compound, was under the auspices of the United States Agency for International Development under its three-year anti-corruption Role of Law Effectiveness program.
Seminar
De la Paz said the inputs from the participants of the seminar will be included in the final edition of the module, which will be released in October in time for the actual lifestyle check.
BP is a corruption-intolerant church-based movement for a transformed Filipino nation.
Agreement
BP and the anti-graft office signed a memorandum of agreement to allow BP to gather data and detailed information on government officials and employees as basis for any legal action by the ombudsman’s office.
The anti-graft office is undermanned and has acknowledged the contribution of BP and other CSOs in the implementation of its anti-corruption projects, especially the lifestyle check.
“We are emboldened to apply the program in light of reports that there are government officials and employees here whose life-styles don’t jibe with their salaries,” Alpuerto said.
Lifestyle checks have proven to be effective in the fight against corruption.
In 2004, the government’s lifestyle check program started showing results.
Several high-ranking government officials were dismissed from service for their “unexplained wealth.”
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 4, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
