TACKLING CORRUPTION IN THE PHILIPPINES—AGAIN?

TACKLING CORRUPTION IN THE PHILIPPINES—AGAIN?

The expose by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. of the corruption in flood control projects has once again stirred public interest in that familiar battle cry—let’s tackle corruption in the Philippines. Yes, we’ve heard it before, many times over, under every administration. But the question remains: will it be different this time?

It seems we already have the mechanisms to fight corruption. We have the Ombudsman, the Commission on Audit (COA), the Sandiganbayan, and countless anti-graft laws. We even have new technologies: drones, satellites, and project monitoring software. But despite all of these, corruption remains as stubborn as ever. Why?

Is it just a matter of lacking political will? If that’s the case, are we now seeing the “big push” from the President himself? He has openly called on local mayors to expose corruption in their own jurisdictions. Admirable words, but actions are what count. So far, we’ve only seen Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig and Mayor Benjie Magalong of Baguio step forward. Where are the others? Why the deafening silence from most mayors? Fear? Complicity? Or is it simply the culture of keeping quiet rather than rocking the boat?

That silence is telling. Because corruption in the Philippines is not just a system of bad apples—it is a network, a culture, a way of political survival. Politicians routinely accept “donations” from contractors, a practice not illegal but clearly rife with conflicts of interest. Should we continue to tolerate this? If the law says it is legal but common sense tells us it is wrong, isn’t it time to close that loophole?

This is where things get complicated. Fighting corruption is not just about catching thieves. It’s about changing incentives, dismantling rent-seeking networks, and—most importantly—building trust that honesty pays better than dishonesty. Right now, the incentives lean the other way.

Let us consider the tools already on the table. Project DIME, for example, uses satellite and drone technology to monitor infrastructure projects. Imagine a bird’s-eye view of flood control projects, roadworks, and public buildings. From above, ghost projects have nowhere to hide. But here’s the catch: technology is only as effective as the people who manage it. If the monitoring agencies themselves are compromised, then all the drones and satellites in the sky won’t matter.

Then there’s project monitoring software, already available in the market. If adopted widely, these systems could create real-time dashboards for citizens to track budgets and progress. But again—will government use them? Or will they gather dust like so many other reforms announced with much fanfare but forgotten in practice?

The truth is that corruption thrives in opacity and impunity. Justice institutions remain weak, vulnerable to political capture. Procurement rules are skirted by executive agreements. Oversight bodies are fragmented. And culturally, we have normalized corruption to the point that it is treated as a “necessary evil” for political survival.

So, are the mechanisms enough for us to win? On paper, yes. In practice, not yet. Without shielding the Ombudsman, COA, and judiciary from interference, we cannot expect consistent enforcement. Without mandatory transparency in contracts, bidding remains a playground for favored contractors. Without empowering civil society and the media, whistleblowers will stay silent, and journalists will remain targets.

What then can be done? First, strengthen institutions, not personalities. Second, close the loopholes that allow “legal” conflicts of interest. Third, localize anti-corruption efforts down to the barangay level, where citizens themselves can see where every peso goes. And fourth, protect those who dare to speak out—because corruption cannot be fought by a single President alone.

So yes, President Marcos has started another push to tackle corruption. But the real test is whether this will go beyond speeches and exposés. Will we finally see accountability? Will more local officials step up, or will they stay silent in the shadows?

We Filipinos have learned to be skeptical, because we’ve seen this movie before. But perhaps, just perhaps, if this “big push” combines technology, transparency, and real political courage, then maybe we will not have to ask the same question all over again a few years from now.

But until that day comes, the title remains a question, not a declaration: Tackling Corruption in the Philippines—Again?

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

10-24-2025 

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