If a problem is systemic, massive, and generational, so should the solution be.

Attacking it requires all hands on deck at battle stations with all guns blazing.

“Institutionalizing the fight against corruption,” was how the Civil Society Advisory Committee called the battle plan against this scourge of society  on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day 2011, and we agree absolutely with the group.

In solidarity with the 72 organizations – political; economic; educational; peace; environmental; labor; health; social welfare; sustainable development, and community empowerment organizations comprising the CSAC — we yield this patch to give way to their joint statement:        

Corruption is a hindrance to the people’s right to development.  It diverts valuable public resources away from many front line services such as education, infrastructure, and health, delaying the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and as a result impacts adversely on the human rights of the poor and marginalized most profoundly.   Corruption has both eroded and deprived people particularly of their economic, social and cultural rights as well as their right to development.  Though certainly not a unique problem to the Philippines, corruption has persisted at high levels for years.  This has to change.

As the world celebrates International Anti-Corruption Day 2011 today, the Philippines has much to be hopeful about.  Winning on a platform of anti-corruption and poverty reduction, the administration of President Benigno Aquino III has ushered in a fresh wind of optimism in the fight against corruption.  His good governance efforts are being led by known good governance advocates in the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Interior and Local Governments, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Justice, and Department of Agriculture among others.  His commitment to remove an obstructionist leader at the office of the Ombudsman has resulted in the appointment of a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court with a reputation of independence and integrity. President Aquino’s appointments to the Supreme Court have likewise been well received by judicial reform advocates.

From the starting gun of his “no wang-wang” policy in his inaugural address, President Aquino has set the tone about public service.  He has shown a determination and commitment to hold public officials accountable.  In this area, we support his efforts to put closure to the unanswered controversies of the past by pursuing cases of corruption or criminality, at all levels of government, but most especially at the highest level.  We expect that he will hold his own people to the same high standard of accountability with the same vigor and commitment.

The collective drive towards rights-based good governance and anti-corruption can be best supported by securing the people’s constitutionally guaranteed right to information, as contained in Article 3, Section 7 of the Philippine Constitution, through proper legislation – The Freedom of Information Act.  Without clear, unequivocal and urgent support for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act, President Aquino undermines his own efforts at institutionalizing good governance.  We look to the president to immediately declare the Freedom of Information bill as a priority legislative measure, and to call on his legislative allies to enact the bill within the 15th Congress.  There are no credible excuses why this cannot be done.  As a member of the Steering Committee of the US-led Open Government Partnership, the Philippines now embarrassingly stands out as the only country in the committee that does not have Freedom of Information legislation in place.