Pork and other perks : corruption & governance in the Philippines
/ Sheila S. Coronel, editor ; with articles by Cecile C.A. Balgos [and eight others] ; and an introduction by Joel Rocamora
- 293 pages : illustrations
Includes bibliographical references.
Pork Each member of congress controls millions of pesos of "Pork barrel" funds, but much if this money ends up in showy projects thar do not make much umpact on poverty. In the eastern Visayas, pork is skimmed off by contractors and suppliers, and some of it also ends up in congressmen's pockets. The Public Purse Congress has the power of the purse and has traditionally used it to enrich and enpower invidual legistators. With Malacaņang's complicity, Congress has also allowed the government to spend more than it can earn and to fritter away the people's money on politically expedient projects. Scam From 1995 to 1997, some P3 bilion was paid in bribes and commissions to a cast of brokers and public officials in waht is now known as the amari scandal.That Scam involving the sale of public property to athai comapny set a new standard of thievery and reveals the failure of the checks against corruption. Monopoly PLDT, the country's long-time telephone monopoly owned by the cojuangco family, has expoited its political connection to maximum advantages. In both dictatorshipand democracy, in a regulated regime and a liberalized one, PLDT has shown an uncanny ability to bend the rules. GateKeeper Despite high-profile attempts to clean it up, the bureau of immigration remains a lair of corruption. The problem lies in both the bureaucratic powers and privileges. Highway Robbery Infrastructure projects in mindanao have been slowed down by delay and misbehaving contractors. Corruption, political patronage, and the inability of the public works department to discipline erring firms mean shoddy roads and half-finished bridges. Campaign Kitty The use of public funds for political campaign reached new heights during the marcos era. But the practice thas not stopped despite the institutionalization of more stringent checks since 1986. Ombudsman Thr country's anti-graft body, the office of the ombudsman, is weight down by ineptitude and vulnerability to political pressure. The sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court, is doing better. But overall, aniti-corruption bodies need more teeth. Graftbusters Raging against corruption,citizens have oranized themselves to espose the abuse committted by government officials and agencies. the most succesful groups have shown a remarkable tenacity and a determination to nail wrongdoers.
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Political corruption--Philippines Corrupt investigation--Philippines