Businessmen form shadow Cabinet vs corruption

MANILA, Philippines – Members of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) will form an informal advisory body on corruption, peace and security, and climate change.

MAP president Felino Palafox Jr. said they decided to form a so-called “shadow cabinet” to counsel the government on policy-making.

“If I have to rate the corruption level here in the Philippines, it’s eight out of a possible ten,” said Palafox in an interview at the sidelines of the 62nd MAP inaugural meeting yesterday at the Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City.

He said MAP will inform President Aquino, in writing, of their decision to form the advisory body which will be composed of members who had served in government and those with expertise in specific industries.

“We have members that were former government secretaries and officials. These people have the advantage of hindsight because they have done this kind of thing before. This is our way of really being proactive in helping the government institute reforms,” Palafox said.

He said the body will regularly submit papers to concerned government agencies.

The creation of an informal advisory body has raised concerns that it would be used to advance the interests of the group.

“This is our way of helping. They should not view this as meddling because President Aquino said that his boss is the people and that is all of us,” Palafox said.

He said more than 300 companies have pledged support for the creation of the advisory body. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)