Palace acknowledges SWS survey on widespread corruption

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. PHOTO BY LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Thursday said it acknowledges the results of a recent survey showing that more business people are observing “a lot” of corruption but not without reforms from the government.

“It is evident that the perception on seeing a lot of corruption is balanced by the perception that the government is taking steps to eradicate corruption,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a press briefing.

He cited the Social Weather Stations (SWS) 2013 Survey of Enterprises on Corruption, which said 56 percent of the country’s top executives claimed seeing “a lot” of corruption in the public sector, a substantial increase from 43 percent in 2012.

The survey was conducted from July to November 2013 among 951 companies.

He said the same survey revealed that 73 percent of respondents believed that the government efforts to eradicate corruption have been effective.

However, it was pointed out during the briefing that the 73 percent was a drop from 78 percent in 2012.

Coloma, on the other hand, boasted of the results of the International Finance Corporation’s “Doing Business 2014” and the Transparency International’s “Corruption Perceptions Index,” both of which gave the Philippines a higher or better ranking compared to previous years.

“These favorable findings give due recognition to the government’s determination to institutionalize reforms that will promote good governance pursuant to its commitment to implement the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC),” he said.

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