MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - The Philippines' ranking among the world's most corrupt countries improved slightly, based on the 2011 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International on Thursday.
The Philippines came in at 129 with a 2.6 CPI in Transparency International's list that ranks 178 countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be.
This is better than the Philippines' 134th ranking in 2010 with a 2.4 CPI. The CPI score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 - 10, where 0 means that a country is perceived as highly corrupt and 10 means that a country is perceived as very clean.
Transparency International-Philippines said some of the factors that contributed to the Philippines' (2.6) slight jump are the improvement in government service, and cutting red tape.
The group believes that the government's efforts to prosecute former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may positively affect the perception on corruption as this shows the government means business.
“This year we have seen corruption on protestors’ banners be they rich or poor. Whether in a Europe hit by debt crisis or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government,” said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International, in a statement.
The Philippines 129 ranking puts it at the same level as Honduras, Dominican Republic and Syria.
But this is the Philippines' highest ranking since 2007 when it ranked 131st with a score of 2.5. In 2010 and 2009, the Philippines had a score of 2.4, showing virtually no improvement in the corruption index.
President Benigno Aquino assumed power last year on a platform of good governance andanti-corruption, and has been actively pursuing electoral sabotage and corruption cases against his predecessor Arroyo.
Among 35 Asia-Pacific countries in the list, the Philippines is still perceived as one of the most corrupt, ranking 25th.
Most corrupt, least corrupt
North Korea, along with Somalia, was judged as the most corrupt not just in Asia but in the world.
"There are no checks and balances in North Korea, no public accountability and total political control of the judiciary. And on top of that, civil society as we know it does not exist there," TI Managing Director Cobus de Swardt told Reuters.
Most worrying, he said, was that high levels of corruption fundamentally undermine food distribution, painting a grim picture for North Korea, where the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned of a coming "nutrition crisis".
About two thirds of countries ranked in the index this year scored 5.0 or less.I
Other Asia-Pacific countries perceived as highly corrupt are Myanmar (180), Myanmar (180), Afghanistan (180), Cambodia (164), Nepal (154), Papua New Guinea (154) and Laos (154).
On the other hand, New Zealand was judged as the "least corrupt", topping the list with a 9.5 CPI. The top 5 also included Denmark (2), Finland (2), Sweden (4) and Singapore (5). - with Reuters
Personal Reaction/Reflection
Postive- Its a good thing to hear that we have improved in the latest corruption survey (from ranked 131 in 2007, 134 in2009 & 2010 and now 129 in 2011) because its a sign that the Philippines is on its way now to progress that we all Filipinos are dreaming of since the last Aquino administration in 1985. Indeed, President Noynoy Aquino is really actively pursuing his platform of good governance, anti corruption and electoral sabotage as manifested by Arroyo's arrest that could have been contributed to the slightly increase in the ranking of the Philippines. Because of these positive events, there would be now lots of investors and tourist that would come here in our county and there would be soon business that would be established.
Postive- Its a good thing to hear that we have improved in the latest corruption survey (from ranked 131 in 2007, 134 in2009 & 2010 and now 129 in 2011) because its a sign that the Philippines is on its way now to progress that we all Filipinos are dreaming of since the last Aquino administration in 1985. Indeed, President Noynoy Aquino is really actively pursuing his platform of good governance, anti corruption and electoral sabotage as manifested by Arroyo's arrest that could have been contributed to the slightly increase in the ranking of the Philippines. Because of these positive events, there would be now lots of investors and tourist that would come here in our county and there would be soon business that would be established.
Negative- Despite of this increase in rank, we are still perceive by our neighborhood countries as one of the most corrupt country around the world. I think President Noynoy Aquino should still exert some effort for him to to reduce this corruption problem in our country in order to cleanse the image of the Philippines.
Recommendation/Suggestion
As what i have said in the negative aspect of my personal reaction/reflection, President Noynoy should still exert some effort for him to thoroughly eliminate/reduce the corruption in the government because many of our countrymen would suffer more if this thing would still exist. I also think that its not only the job of our president or whoever is in that position to reduce corruption, we ourselves should also work hand in hand because without the cooperation of the many, its still impossible for us to experience a corrupt-free country. This government drive to eliminate corruption should be also covered be some funding in order for the Aquino administration to be more effective in its goal to eliminate corruption.
