Sunday, October 2, 2016

Root causes of the high incidence of graft and corruption in the

Philippines

A perception survey on the root causes of the high incidence of graft and
corruption in the Philippines was conducted using a quota sampling technique. The
respondents were categorized into 6 sectors, namely: business, labor, academe,
government, legal profession, and marginalized groups.

Table 1 describes the breakdown of the respondents who participated in the perception survey.

Sector Description Respondent %

Business Business owners 78 14.9%
Labor Employees in private firms 123 23.4%
Academe Educators and students 127 24.2%
Government Employees in government 64 12.2%
agencies
Legal Profession Lawyers 55 10.5%
Marginalized Informal settlers, persons with 78 14.9%
disabilities, senior citizens,
indigenous people
Total 525 100%

Table 2: Sectoral Breakdown of Perception Survey Respondents

Olken (2007) asserts that perception surveys are a good measurement of

knowing and confirming objectively the extent of corruption.

The statements in Table 2 were used to determine the root causes of the high
incidence of graft and corruption in the Philippines:

Statements Weight Interpretation

Electing the wrong public officials
(Senate, House of 5.438 High
Representatives, LGU) will
 stimulate corruption within
government agencies and units
Electing the wrong president is the
start of a potentially corrupt 5.371 High
administration
The role of families and
households is critical in the
5.248 High
development of a culture of
corruption in society
The business sector and other
sectors of society oftentimes
5.055 High
create opportunities for officials to
commit corruption
The educational system of the
country contributes to the culture of 4.592 High
corruption
Corruption in the Philippines is
hopeless 3.684 Moderate

Table 2: Premise statements to determine the root causes of graft and corruption in the Philippines

There are many root causes of graft and corruption in the government. But the
most critical is that electing the wrong President will be the start of a corrupt
administration.

This confirms that the countrys unitary presidential form of government coupled
with a free and open party system created weak political parties, weak judicial
structures and weak legislature, thus contributing to the emerging phenomenon of an
imperial presidency which president tends to overwhelm the other two co-equal
branches, the legislature and the judiciary. Thus there is a need to review our countrys
system of government and considering changing the countrys free and open party
system.

Since the country is suffering from a democratic deficit, there is also a need to
create stronger political parties to close such deficit, making Philippine democracy more
responsive to the citizenry as a whole and address the interests and demands of those
at the bottom of society.
 However, corruption is not an exclusive domain of the government. It
permeates the most basic social unit of society, the family.

Moreover, these values are further aggravated by the worsening poverty level,
lack of opportunities within the country, technological innovations, exploitation by media
and commercialization of culture and education. Currently, a research was conducted
where one in every ten families give money, gifts, or favor to facilitate availing of a
service from a government service. Vote buying is already prevalent in every election
especially during the campaign period, or on the election day itself when the voters are
about to enter the polling booth.

Mass media has become the most powerful tool used by the politicians to
manipulate the voting public. It shapes and molds opinions and attitudes and defines
what is normal and acceptable. What is disturbing is that the mass medias influence in
delivering information has always been political.

What is also critical is that the business sector creates opportunities for government
officials to commit graft and corruption in order to gain favors for the business
enterprises

Finally, the failure of the Philippine educational system to educate young Filipinos
contributes to the high incidence of graft and corruption in the country. This lack of
education results to the lack of sense of nationhood which eventually connects to the
core values of love of country, honesty and integrity. Results of the qualitative interview
emphasized that the countrys lack of sense of nationalism goes back to the foreign
occupations by the Japanese and Americans; the effects of the war in our country led
the Filipinos to forget these values. Thus, corruption also happens within the classroom
and within the boundaries of the school. Teachers are considered major influencers to
the youth. Hence, the power of the youth vote in any electoral process cannot be
understated. That is why it is important that a law for an extensive voter education at
the grassroots level (households, schools and communities) be enacted.

References:
Griffin, E. (2009). First Look at Communication Theory (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-
Hill Higher Education.

Hutchcroft, P. & Rocamora, J. (2003). Strong Demands and Weak Institutions: The Origins
and Evolution of the Democratic Deficit in the Philippines." Journal of East Asian Studies 3
(2003), pp. 259-292