MANILA, Philippines ? About 50 percent of the total government budget goes to corruption, according to presidential candidate Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

But there is a bigger problem, said Villanueva, standard-bearer of Bangon Pilipinas and leader of the Jesus is Lord fellowship group.

President Macapagal-Arroyo is ?not serious about eradicating corruption in government,? Villanueva pointed out.

?There?s corruption even in government agencies like the Department of Health and the Department of Education. Even in the importation of supposedly cheap medicines and the purchase of textbooks for public schools, there?s corruption? he told yesterday?s Civil Society Dialogue with 2010 Presidential Candidates.

The forum, held at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City, was organized by the Caucus of Development NGO Networks, a coalition of the 12 largest NGOs in the country.

According to Villanueva, what the country needs is a ?no-nonsense President, one who is willing to fight the monsters of corruption in government and one who has the political will to eradicate corruption.?

If elected president, he said he would ?overhaul the entire system. We will correct the wrongs committed in the past.?

?Give me six months to one year and we will demolish the institutions of corruption in our country,? said Villanueva, a losing presidential candidate in the 2004 elections.

According to Villanueva, he would also ?prioritize anticorruption measures in budget allocation.?