Oversight body vs gov’t major regulatory agencies urged

Members of the House of Representatives yesterday expressed disappointment over the Transparency International (TI) report even as they pushed the creation of a permanent congressional oversight committee that would monitor major regulatory agencies of the government.

The lawmakers, including Representatives Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar), Neil Tupas (Iloilo) and Juan Edgardo Angara (Aurora) said they were displeased with the latest global corruption survey.

They noted that despite the small improvement, the report shows how “deeply rooted” corruption is in the bureaucracy.

Despite improving from 139th last year to 134th this year, however, the Philippines is still being considered even as the most corrupt nation in Southeast Asia as it continues to lag far behind its neighboring countries such as Malaysia (56th), Thailand (78th), Indonesia (110th) and Vietnam (116th), according to the corruption perception index (CPI) report of TI.

“Congress has to institutionalize its efforts to fight official corruption and it cannot do so without a permanent congressional oversight committee that would monitor the performances of the major regulatory agencies of government,” Evardone said.

He explained that the proposed permanent congressional oversight committee would be tasked to keep track of government agencies especially those with rate-setting and franchise-awarding functions, to put the Congress at the forefront of the effort to stamp out official corruption.

Tupas, chairman of the House committee on justice, said the TI report shows widespread corruption in the country.

“This is very embarrassing. It shows that corruption could be deeply rooted in Philippine bureaucracy and government,” Tupas said.

TI described the Philippines as “highly corrupt” country despite the improved ranking.

The Philippines is still reportedly being considered in the survey as “highly corrupt” and at the same level as that of Kenya, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Republic of Congo, Uganda, Timor Leste, Lebanon, Solomon Islands, Mali, Mongolia, Niger, Libya, Iran, Nepal, Yemen, Cambodia, Venezuela, Honduras, Syria, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Benin, Gabon, Indonesia, Kosovo, Kazakhastan, Modova, among others.

Iraq was fourth from top of the most corrupt ranking, Myanmar shared second place with Afghanistan and lawless Somalia was considered the world’s most corrupt country, with a score of 1.1.

TI, a non-government organization that monitors and publicizes corruption perceptions in corporate and political environment expressed that the lingering corruption problem “is very worrying.”

“I don’t think any right thinking citizen will be happy with that but we must start somewhere,” Angara said, adding political will much to institute reforms.

House Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, however, said he was happy that the country made an improvement no matter how young the Aquino administration is.

“I am happy with the news because the report shows that there is an improvement in our situation with President Aquino not even reaching his 200th day. The momentum for good governance is there. We should continue to march forward,” he added.

Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop said the country can further improve its rating if leaders will take the lead.

“We can do better if our leaders take the lead and lead by example,” he added. –Gerry Baldo, Daily Tribune