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Thursday, July 19, 2007
Bizmen's survey: Public Works, Customs 'still most corrupt'
CEBU CITY -- The public works department and customs bureau are still the most corrupt agencies in the country, businessmen said in a survey.
The Office of the Ombudsman, the same survey said, is among the agencies considered by traders to be “mediocre” in their sincerity in fighting corruption.
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“Listening to the presentation, I am shocked,” said Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Santiago. She said her agency lacks funding and personnel and they could not cope with the number of cases filed.
Unlike in the overall result, however, Cebu’s businessmen consider as “good” the performance of the Office of the Ombudsman, alongside the Department of Health.
“This is a wakeup call for us. I saw how we are rated and it’s time to work harder for good governance. It’s a tap on the shoulder for us to do more because we are not on the excellent level,” said Santiago.
In the 2007 Social Weather Stations (SWS) Business Survey on Corruption, however, it is not only government agencies that appear to have much to do in curbing corrupt practices.
The survey shows that among businessmen, only a minority follow basic honest business practices. In Cebu, for example, only 35 percent issue receipts, a mere 33 percent keep only one set of books, and only 21 percent said they pay taxes honestly.
The results raise the need for businessmen not to have double standards, a researcher from the University of San Carlos said. Surveys showed that 50 percent of Cebu businessmen demand receipts compared to the 35 percent who issue receipts themselves.
“Fighting corruption is a two-way traffic. This does not involve just the government. This involves the business and the public as well…This is also a challenge to the business, if you point a finger at government, be sure that you also follow the rules,” said Santiago.
The survey showed that in Cebu, bribing for government contracts as well as “personal knowledge” of a corrupt transaction with government increased. The results also showed the existence of businessmen giving bribes to corner contracts in the private sector.
“While we police others, it is also important to police ourselves. The bottom line is change in values that goes down deep into our family and educational system,” said a representative from the academe.
Among the areas in the country, however, Cebu’s businessmen showed the most enthusiasm for spending money for anti-corruption advocacy, noted Dr. Mahar Mangahas, SWS president.
“Businessmen’s willingness to give to an anti-corruption fund was set back in other areas, but not in Cebu,” said Mangahas.
Businessmen also get more satisfaction from local government performance in promoting good business climate than that of the National Government.
National and Cebu results also show the same trend, with businessmen rating “very good” the sincerity of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Social Security System and the Supreme Court in addressing corruption.
Among the areas, Cebu businessmen are also most enthusiastic about the business climate, with 64 percent of respondents expecting a good business climate while only 52 percent answered the same in other areas. (JPM of Sun.Star Cebu) For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (July 19, 2007 issue)
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