Title: Addressing Corruption and Transparency Issues in the Philippine

Administrative System

Corruption has been a long-standing problem in the Philippine administrative

system. It has been deeply entrenched in various sectors of society and has hindered

the country's progress and development. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index

(CPI) of Transparency International, the Philippines ranked 115th out of 180 countries in

2019, indicating a high level of corruption. This article aims to discuss the corruption

and transparency issues in the Philippine administrative system, including efforts to

combat corruption such as the creation of the Ombudsman and the Anti-Red Tape Act.

The Philippines has a long history of corruption in its government and private

sectors. It has been described as a "culture of corruption" that is deeply rooted in the

society. Corruption in the country takes many forms, such as bribery, embezzlement,

nepotism, cronyism, and patronage politics. It occurs at all levels of government, from

the highest officials to the lowest-ranking employees.

Corruption in the Philippine administrative system has serious consequences. It

undermines public trust and confidence in government institutions, weakens the rule of

law, and diverts public resources away from their intended purposes. It also creates an

uneven playing field for businesses, hindering economic growth and development.

The Philippine administrative system has been marred by corruption and

transparency issues for decades. Corruption is considered a major impediment to the

country's economic and social development. Efforts have been made to address

corruption and increase transparency in the Philippine government through the creation
of institutions such as the Ombudsman and the passage of the Anti-Red Tape Act. This

article aims to review the current state of corruption and transparency issues in the

Philippine administrative system and the effectiveness of the measures taken to combat

corruption.

The Philippines has long been considered one of the most corrupt countries in

Southeast Asia. Corruption is rampant at all levels of the government, from petty bribery

to large-scale embezzlement. The country's ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index

(CPI) has been consistently low, with a score of 34 out of 100 in 2020 (Transparency

International, 2020). This indicates a high level of perceived corruption in the public

sector.

One of the primary reasons for corruption in the Philippine administrative system

is the lack of transparency and accountability. The lack of transparency makes it easy

for public officials to engage in corrupt practices without being held accountable. It also

creates an environment of impunity where those who engage in corrupt activities are not

punished, and the public loses trust in the government.

The Philippine government has taken several measures to combat corruption in

the administrative system. One of the significant efforts is the creation of the

Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body tasked with

investigating and prosecuting public officials for corrupt acts. It was created in 1987

under the Philippine Constitution to promote transparency and accountability in

government.
 The Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body responsible for

investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption and other malfeasance committed by

public officials (The Official Gazette, n.d.). The Ombudsman has the power to

investigate public officials, issue subpoenas, and file charges against those found guilty

of corruption.

The creation of the Ombudsman was a significant step towards addressing

corruption in the Philippine administrative system. It has helped to increase

transparency and accountability in the government by providing a mechanism for

investigating and prosecuting corrupt public officials. The Ombudsman has the power to

investigate and prosecute public officials for graft and corruption, malfeasance,

misfeasance, and nonfeasance. It also has the power to investigate complaints against

government agencies and officials and recommend appropriate action. The

Ombudsman's jurisdiction covers all public officials, whether elected or appointed, in the

executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, as well as those in

government-owned and controlled corporations. However, the effectiveness of the

Ombudsman has been limited by the slow pace of investigations and the low conviction

rate of those charged with corruption (Cruz, 2019).

Another measure taken to combat corruption in the Philippine administrative

system is the passage of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007. The law aims to streamline

government processes and reduce bureaucratic red tape, which is often used as a tool

for corruption (The Official Gazette, 2007). The law requires government agencies to

establish a citizen's charter that outlines the steps and requirements for availing of

government services.
 The Anti-Red Tape Act has helped to reduce corruption by making it more

difficult for public officials to engage in corrupt practices. It has also increased

transparency by requiring government agencies to provide clear and concise

information on the services they offer. However, the law's effectiveness has been limited

by the lack of enforcement and the resistance of some government agencies to

implement the law's provisions (Cruz, 2019). Under the ARTA, government agencies

are required to implement a "Citizens' Charter" that outlines the agency's services and

procedures, as well as the requirements and fees for each service. The Charter also

specifies the maximum time for processing each service and the personnel responsible

for providing the service. It also provides for the establishment of a "One-Stop Shop"

that consolidates all the services of an agency in one location, making it easier for

citizens to transact with the government.

In addition to the Ombudsman and ARTA, other efforts to combat corruption in

the Philippine administrative system include the establishment of the Sandiganbayan, a

special anti-graft court, and the implementation of the Philippine Extractive Industries

Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI), a voluntary disclosure program for mining and oil and

gas companies.

In conclusion, corruption and transparency issues in the Philippine administrative

system continue to be a major challenge for the country's economic and social

development. The creation of institutions such as the Office of the Ombudsman and the

passage of the Anti-Red Tape Act are significant steps towards addressing corruption

and increasing transparency in the government. However, their effectiveness has been

limited by the slow pace of investigations, low conviction rates, lack of enforcement, and
resistance from some government agencies. More needs to be done to strengthen

these institutions and ensure that they are effective in addressing corruption and

increasing transparency in the Philippine administrative system.

In addition to the measures discussed in the article, there are other efforts to

combat corruption and promote transparency in the Philippine administrative system.

One of these efforts is the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) program,

which was signed into law in 2016. This program aims to promote transparency and

accountability by giving citizens access to government records and information, with

certain exceptions for confidential and sensitive information.

The FOI program is an important step towards promoting transparency and

accountability in the Philippine government. It allows citizens to access important

information about government activities, which can help to prevent corruption and hold

government officials accountable for their actions. However, the success of the FOI

program depends largely on the implementation and enforcement of the law. It is

important for government agencies to be transparent in their processes and to respond

to FOI requests in a timely and accurate manner.

Another effort to combat corruption in the Philippine administrative system is the

use of technology to promote transparency and accountability. For example, the

government has implemented an online portal called the Transparency Seal, which

provides information about government budgets, expenditures, and procurement

processes. This portal allows citizens to track how government funds are being spent,

and can help to prevent corruption by providing greater transparency in government

processes.
 In addition, the use of technology has also been implemented in the procurement

process through the e-procurement system. The system aims to provide a more efficient

and transparent procurement process, reducing the opportunity for corruption and

promoting fair competition among bidders. The e-procurement system enables

government agencies to advertise their procurement needs online, receive and evaluate

bids electronically, and award contracts more quickly and transparently.

Overall, the efforts to combat corruption and promote transparency in the

Philippine administrative system are crucial in ensuring good governance and protecting

the interests of the people. While there have been significant strides made in recent

years, there is still much work to be done to ensure that corruption is eradicated and

government officials are held accountable for their actions. It is important for the

government and the public to continue to work together in creating an environment that

is free from corruption and upholds the values of transparency, accountability, and good

governance.

4. The article "Corruption and transparency issues in the Philippine administrative system,

including efforts to combat corruption such as the creation of the Ombudsman and the Anti-Red

Tape Act" is highly relevant to the Philippine administrative system as it sheds light on the

pervasive issue of corruption in the country and the measures taken to combat it. Corruption

has been a longstanding issue in the Philippines, affecting various sectors including the

government, private sector, and civil society. The article provides an overview of the corruption

situation in the country, its causes, and its impact on the economy and society.
The article highlights the creation of the Ombudsman and the Anti-Red Tape Act as

significant efforts to combat corruption in the public sector. The Ombudsman serves as

an independent body tasked with investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption and

maladministration in the government. On the other hand, the Anti-Red Tape Act aims to

streamline bureaucratic processes and reduce corruption opportunities by imposing

strict penalties on officials who engage in corrupt practices.

The article also discusses the challenges and limitations of these anti-corruption

measures, such as the lack of resources and political will to fully implement them.

Furthermore, the article underscores the importance of transparency and accountability

in the fight against corruption, as well as the role of civil society organizations and the

media in exposing corruption cases and holding public officials accountable.

In terms of practical applications, the article highlights the need for continued efforts to

strengthen the anti-corruption framework in the Philippines. This includes increasing the

resources and capacity of the Ombudsman and other anti-corruption agencies,

improving transparency and accountability mechanisms, and addressing the root

causes of corruption such as poverty and inequality. Moreover, the article emphasizes

the need for greater public awareness and engagement in the fight against corruption,

including the promotion of ethical values and behavior among public officials and

citizens.

From a research perspective, the article provides a valuable overview of the corruption

situation in the Philippines, as well as the measures taken to combat it. It also identifies

areas for further research, such as the impact of corruption on different sectors of the
economy and society, the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures, and the role of civil

society organizations and the media in promoting transparency and accountability.

References:

A. Brillantes Jr., "Public Service Values and Ethics in the Philippines," Asian Review

of Public Administration, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 15-28, 1998.

Batalla, E. J. D. (2015). Transparency and accountability in the Philippine public

sector: An assessment of the performance of the Office of the Ombudsman.

International Journal of Public Administration, 38(7), 481-491.

F. B. Abinales and R. P. Tuazon, "Patrimonial Plunder and the Philippine

Administrative State," Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints,

vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 445-464, 2012

G. S. Lim, "The Philippine Anti-Corruption Movement: Lessons for Civil Society-Led

Reform," Philippine Political Science Journal, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 60-86, 2013.

J. S. Gonzalez and R. T. Villamil, "Philippine Governance Reforms: A Preliminary

Assessment of Selected Anti-Corruption Efforts," Journal of Asian Public Policy,

vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 287-305, 2012.

Ocampo, L. M. (2017). Fighting corruption in the Philippines: An update. Journal of

Asian Public Policy, 10(1), 83-97.

Ong, C. M. (2017). Transparency and accountability in the Philippine public sector.

International Journal of Public Administration, 40(9), 745-755.

Orosa, M. P. (2017). The Anti-Red Tape Act and its effect on public service delivery

in the Philippines. Philippine Political Science Journal, 38(2), 132-153.

R. A. Shrestha and M. Y. Abro, "Fighting Corruption in the Philippines: An Analysis

of Progress and Challenges," International Journal of Public Administration, vol.

41, no. 11, pp. 929-939, 2018.

R. K. Tirol, "A Comprehensive Review of Corruption Research and Anti-Corruption

Policies in the Philippines," Asian Journal of Political Science, vol. 28, no. 4, pp.

380-398, 2020.

Tan, E. S. (2019). Administrative reform in the Philippines: An assessment of the

Anti-Red Tape Act. Journal of Public Affairs, 19(3), e1969.