Manila:Holding corrupt officials accountable must go hand in hand with institutional reforms to address systemic weaknesses in government and ensure honest, competent, and reliable public service, Civil Service Commission chairperson Marilyn Barua-Yap said Thursday.

According to Philippines News agency, speaking at the opening of the BANYUHAY National Public Service Summit, Yap emphasized that prosecuting and imprisoning wrongdoers alone would not guarantee better governance or prevent corruption from recurring. She described plundering, theft, and corruption in government as symptoms of deeper institutional issues and a diminished sense of public duty.

Yap highlighted that corruption allegations involving public funds have deprived Filipinos of essential services, including education, housing, and disaster-resilient infrastructure. She noted that the misconduct of a few has also damaged the reputation of public servants who perform their duties honorably.

She called for reforms that strengthen accountability while improving the government's ability to meet public needs, from food, shelter, and education to livelihood, security, and opportunities for a dignified life. Yap stressed the importance of modernizing civil service beyond technology, emphasizing ethical leadership, merit-based recruitment, effective institutions, and digital tools that enhance public service delivery and strengthen transparency.

The two-day summit supports the Philippine Civil Service Modernization Program, particularly its change management component, bringing together public service leaders, policymakers, and experts to develop reform priorities and recommendations. Yap also raised the possibility of updating existing laws governing the civil service and called for a review of the effectiveness of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the code of conduct for public officials, and the law against plunder.

The summit is expected to produce shared reform priorities, policy recommendations, and proposals for further work on Filipino values, meritocracy, institutional reform, technology, and communication. However, the CSC noted that these outputs are not yet approved policy commitments and will undergo review, validation, and the applicable approval processes.