EDUKASYON SA PAGPAPAKATAO 10 │MODULE 4

Chapter 4:
Lesson 2: B. Use of Power and Environmental Protection: Values
Clarification

LESSON PROPER:

Values Clarification

According to UNESCAP, governance means the process of decision-

making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not
implemented). It ca be used in different perspectives like corporate, local,
national, or international governance. Hence, its analysis is focused on formal
and informal actors involved in making decisions and implementing these
decisions.

The government is one of the actors in governance. It is an assurance,

therefore that corruption among all officials, local or national, is minimized, and
the views and opinions of the minorities are considered and the voices of those
vulnerable in the country are heard in decision-making. Moreover, good
governance addresses the needs of the constituents in the present and future
undertakings.

Aside from their participation, local and national leaders are expected
to be transparent in the decisions undertaken and in the implementation of
these decisions including the responsible use of national budget allocated in
every sector. All the necessary information and details should be accessible
and available to the public for knowledge appropriate dissemination. This
intends to stop if not to minimize graft and corruption cases in the country. Graft
is defined as a form of political corruption that abuses or misuses the public
office for personal gain. It may come in different forms namely: bribery, fraud,
theft, falsification of records, kickbacks, and others. Corruption means a
wrongdoing of a powerful party, a government agency, immoral and
unethical. It is often caused by patronage and is associated with bribery.

Several laws have been enacted to prevent graft and corruption in the
country. For years, though the anti-graft and corruption landscape of the
Philippines has improved, still the country remains to be highly prone to
corruption. The national and international opinion depicts the Philippines as still
corrupt and being unable to effectively combat this pressing concern.

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EDUKASYON SA PAGPAPAKATAO 10 │MODULE 4

There are eight specific types of corruption in the Philippines. They are
tax evasions, ghost projects and payrolls, evasion of public bidding in awarding
of contracts, passing of contracts, nepotism and favoritism, extortion,
protection money, and bribery.

Tax evasion is very rampant, particularly in the private sector due to the
refusal of those engaged in private businesses to honestly declare their annual
income and to pay the corresponding taxes to the government. Ghost
projects and payrolls, on the other hand, is done by high officials of the
government whereby nonexisting projects are financed by the government
while nonexisting personnel or pensioners are being paid salaries and
allowances. This practice is rampant in government agencies involved in
formulation and implementation of programs and projects particularly in
infrastructure and in the granting of salaries, allowances and pension benefits.

Another form of corruption is evasion of public bidding in the awarding

of contracts. Government offices, particularly bids and awards committees
forego the awarding of contracts through public bidding or award these
contracts to favored business enterprises or contractors. Sometimes, members
of bids and awards committees are very subjective of awarding the contract
to those who can provide them with personal benefits. Furthermore, passing of
contracts exits as another form. In the construction of infrastructure projects,
contractors have the practice of passing the work from one contractor to
another and in the process, certain percentage of the project value is retained
by each contractor and subcontractors resulting to the use of substandard
materials or even unfinished projects.

Government officials particularly those occupying high positions tend to

cause the appointment or employment of relatives and close friends to
government positions even if they are not qualified or eligible to discharge the
functions of that office. This in one of the root causes of inefficiency and the
overflowing of government employees in the bureaucracy. This is nepotism of
favoritism.

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EDUKASYON SA PAGPAPAKATAO 10 │MODULE 4

Extortion is done by government officials against their clients by

demanding money, valuable items, or services from ordinary citizens who
transact business with them or their office. This is rampant in agencies issuing
clearances, and other documents, those involved in the recruitment of
personnel, or those performing services that directly favor ordinary citizens.

Kotong, tong, or protection money is a form of bribery which is done by

citizens performing illegal activities and operations. They deliver huge amount
of money to government officials particularly those in-charge of enforcing the
law in exchange for unhampered illegal operation. The law enforcement
officer who receives the money will be duty-bound to protect the citizen
concerned together with his illegal activities from other law enforcement
authorities. This is practiced mostly by gambling lords and those engaged in
business without the necessary permits.

Lastly, the “lagay” system or the act of citizens to bribe government

officials occupying sensitive positions in government in perpetuated due to
bureaucratic red tape. The most frequently employed method is offering a
considerable amount of money to a government official who can facilitate
the issuance of the desired documents in agencies issuing licenses, permits,
clearances, and those agencies deputized to make decisions on particular
issues especially when it is about the environment and the natural resources.

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EDUKASYON SA PAGPAPAKATAO 10 │MODULE 4

The congressmen and senators continue to author bills and enact laws
that really protect and preserve the country’s resources, and these laws should
be strictly imposed and adhered by all Filipinos to guarantee a clean
government.

As citizens of the country, it is everybody’s duty to stand firm for what is

right concerning the proper utilization of the budget appropriated and the
enforcement of laws for environmental concerns. Likewise, you are expected
to actively participate and be involved in all activities especially when it has
something to do with graft and corruption, irresponsible use of natural
resources that is detrimental to the health of the people, and national safety
and security.

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