Fighting graft and corruption

The fight against graft and corruption will be intensified and carried out with greater resolve and political will.

We will, therefore, support the efforts of the Department of Justice, Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan to step up investigation and prosecution of grafters in government particularly those in high positions so that they could be meted appropriate punishments.

We vow to speed up the resolution of cases so that justice will be served fully. To promote justice, fairness, integrity and truth, we have allotted P 12.7 billion to implement justice and judicial reform measures. This includes P7.6 billion for the Judiciary to enable it to implement its Judicial Reform Program, and P3.1 billion for the Department of Justice.

Greater transparency in government operations will be pursued as a strategy to eliminate opportunities for graft and corruption. The government electronic procurement system (G-EPS) has fully operationalized an electronic tender board, suppliers’ registry and price catalogue. This system has considerably made procurement more transparent and less costly. For 2003, the G-EPS will launch the virtual store and the operation of e-payment and e-bidding facilities.

The streamlining of procedures and corresponding reduction of documentary requirements for critical government transactions will be put in motion to speed up transaction flow in government agencies and put “fixers” out of business.