Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the necessity for the government's anti-corruption initiatives to persist beyond his administration to ensure the sustainability of reforms within the government.
According to Philippines News Agency, during a presidential luncheon hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines at the Diamond Hotel Philippines in Manila, President Marcos addressed the issue of entrenched corruption within the country's political framework. He asserted that his administration is actively pursuing strategies aimed at altering the perception and approach of public servants towards their roles and duties.
President Marcos highlighted the pervasive nature of corruption and underscored the importance of continuing to spotlight governmental irregularities to deter officials and others from reverting to previous corrupt practices. He assured that his administration is implementing reforms focused on promoting transparency and reducing opportunities for misconduct.
The President also stressed the necessity of maintaining the momentum against corruption to prevent a relapse into inefficient and overpriced governmental contracts. He pointed out that corruption is a universal issue, not confined to the Philippines, necessitating ongoing efforts to combat it.
Marcos detailed the steps being taken to rectify government processes to prevent misuse of discretion, particularly in ways that lead to illegal or wasteful activities. He mentioned enhancements in transparency and accountability within the Department of Public Works and Highways, including the introduction of a transparency portal for public access to infrastructure project details.
The portal is designed to enable the public to locate projects by district, town, and specific location and to report any concerns regarding substandard or incomplete projects or dubious contracts. Marcos noted that similar systems are being developed or maintained by other government departments to improve public access to information on government initiatives.
President Marcos also discussed the implementation of legal and administrative reforms and the enhancement of monitoring mechanisms to prevent the repetition of irregularities. He identified digitalization as a crucial tool in combating corruption by minimizing human discretion, where waste and corruption often occur.
The President concluded by stating that these measures aim to make government spending and project implementation safer and more equitable, ensuring that the administration remains focused on these objectives to enhance the fairness and security of governmental processes and expenditures.
