05/28/2009
A United Nations official yesterday said there is an urgent need to raise awareness among Filipinos on the need to bring to "zero level" the problem of corruption which remains a serious problem in the country.
Renaud Meyer, Country Director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), stressed that the whole country must be more vigilant against corruption following allegations that it has reached the highest levels of government.
"Corruption as a principle... is an infringement to human rights. It's one of the strongest impediments that hinders the fight against poverty. So it's no, no, no to corruption. That will be the first message and the second message is zero tolerance," Meyer said at the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCaC) Summit in Manila.
Meyer warned that the weak justice system, weak prosecution and lack of convictions would erode public trust and confidence in the government and its institutions.
He noted that the most important danger is when individual Filipinos start accepting corruption as a natural thing.
"We really need all of us to prevent this from happening because if this happens then it's going to be much more difficult to fight corruption," the UN official said.
Over the years, long-standing problems on corruption in the Philippines, poor governance, unsound business policies and weak rule of law, have kept foreign investors at bay.
Even more disappointing is the fact that the Philippines' development performance over the past years has been less impressive compared to neighboring states in the region as billions of pesos intended for development projects go to corruption.
In January this year, the World Bank, one of the leading financial donors to the Philippines , blacklisted seven companies-three Filipino and four Chinese-involved in road projects after an investigation found evidence of bid-rigging.
In the probe conducted by the WB, three witnesses, including a Japanese contractor, alleged that presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo and other top government officials were involved in the anomaly.
Mr. Arroyo, who had been linked several times to other corruption scandals in the government, denied any wrong-doing and refused to attend Senate investigations on the $330-million construction project.
"I think it's very important that young Filipinos still have trust in the leaders of the country, still have trust in the institutions of the country, still have trust in the systems that are running the country," Meyer said.
"If they lose this trust, then you know we're losing 65 percent of the population and their commitment to make the Philippines a better country for themselves. It's a very serious trust issue and corruption is a challenge that really hurts and has the potential to undermine this trust among the people," he added.
COMMENTS
What is troubling even is the fact that Lazir, trying to fight it, gets the blame (writing style, harsh words)! Since there's no "magic formula" fighting such a monster as corruption, anything should be encouraged, not the other way around!
What's wrong with calling one corrupt, incompetent, lame, if TRUE, PROVEN? Weren't the reasons enumerated validly and logically?
Alcoba's language is not appropriate because Sir Peter Eisele has no extra HOLE in the head, other than same seven (7) holes that Alcoba also has: 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, a mouth, 2 ears!
Lazir sees identifying names as effective, for now!
KOR Europe problems cropped up, after Paras rose to power! Evidence might not be there to pin Quiambao as backer or pusher, but if Quiambao was SC when Paras got KGOR in Florida, then the blame goes to Quiambao!
Petition signed by Nollas and that lying priest Apollo de Guzman were addressed to Quiambao! Alone, Paras is not the type who can move anything!
Remember that Paras lost the dialogue with Belgian Knights, 2003, Phil Embassy-Brussels, about the INVALID elections?
But when Quiambao reportedly "showed-up" in Brussels (?), Paras and his ilk got their BRAND NEW KOR Chapter, in a span of more or less two days!, even holding their "famous" OATH-TAKING?
Sorry to keep repeating these: Quiambao is CORRUPT, Esguerra lame and incompetent and their Rizalism FAKE!
This applies as well to their appointed officials worldwide, including Guansing & Plueckebaum!
They might hold power for now, but it won't last forever!
The fight vs. corruption goes on!
For country and people!
:)
Lazir
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