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PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-GRAFT COMMISSION 

PRESS RELEASE

September 26, 2006

PAGC HONORS TOP 10 AGENCIES FIGHTING GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

(DTI climbs from bottom 5 to top 5 while BIR & DPWH continue to be among top 10 compliant agencies) 

In recognition of efforts to support the fight against graft and corruption through the Integrity Development Action Plan (IDAP) implementation, Presidential Anti-Graft Commission Chairman, Dr. Constancia P. de Guzman will be awarding the Top 10 Most Compliant Agencies for the 1^st semester of 2006 at the Mabini Hall of Malacañan Palace this afternoon. 

PAGC, as the overseeing body of IDAP implementation, identified the Top 10 from a pool of 70 government agencies (excluding regional offices) that implemented the 22 anti-corruption measures crafted during the Presidential Anti-Corruption Workshop conducted by senior government officials to eradicate red tape among public offices.  

PAGC Chairman de Guzman stressed that the recognition was based on the extent to which the anti-corruption measures are put in place in a particular agency. 

“This does not mean that corruption no longer exists in these agencies. The first semester awards recognize genuine efforts are being exerted by the agencies to significantly reduce if not eventually eliminate graft which is considered as the moral challenge of our time,” said de Guzman. 

Chairman de Guzman further said that this should serve as a warning that the government is serious about purging corruption and will not hesitate to penalize individuals involved in any form of corruption. 

Topping the list of most compliant agencies is the Department of Health (DOH), which has consistently led the list since 2005. Next in rank is the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), followed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Fifth is the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which showed significant improvement from a year ago when it was rated among the last 5 of 70 agencies.  

Comprising the second rung are: The Office of the President, Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Noteworthy is the climb to the top 10 of the new entrants, PNP and MMDA. NEDA and LRA were dislodged from the ten but nevertheless still scored way above the acceptable mark. 

The implementation of IDAP in different government agencies started last January 2005. As the monitoring body, PAGC conducts quarterly evaluation of each agency’s performance. Since the first list of top performers was released in December 2005, agencies were encouraged to be more vigilant in promoting transparency and accountability in governance, honesty and integrity in the bureaucracy. 

Among the 22 items included in the ranking are prevention measures such as strengthening of internal controls and adoption of a single ID system for government officials and employees, education strategies such as integration of anti-corruption modules for elementary and secondary levels, and deterrence/ investigation measures which include setting up of an Internal Affairs Unit and publication of blacklisted offenders. 

Mr. Tony Kwok, Former Deputy Commissioner of Hongkong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption or ICAC, had this to say about the IDAP. “Corruption, no matter how serious and widespread, can be eradicated given the right strategy..the key factor in fighting corruption is political will at the top… a number of officials participated in the entire duration of the workshop, which is seen as a signal that this country has top political will in fighting corruption…”

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